Who wouldn’t know Otíka from Jiří Menzel’s cult comedy Village has a center (1985). Hungarian actor János Bán (70) he earned a special place in Czechoslovak cinematography for this character. The role alongside Marián Labuda († 73) launched his career and he has not been forgotten in the Czech Republic to this day, writes the newspaper. He recently returned to Prague after years, where he was accompanied by a new partner.
The famous actor made no secret of the fact that he wanted to show her the beauties of the Czech metropolis, but at the same time he did not spare her words of praise. Zuzka is an extremely successful designer and fashion expert who owns a boutique with original handbags in the center of Budapest.
Her enormous talent is also evidenced by the fact that her designer pieces, which Bán with a smile described as “miraculous”, successfully exports to New York. The actor himself admits that he does not understand fashion, but he is extremely proud of his significant other’s achievements. You can find a PHOTO of his Zuzana in the gallery!
In addition to the romantic trip, Bán’s return to the Czech Republic also had a strong symbolic and charitable dimension. He ceremoniously cut the ribbon on the reconstructed bridge, which is now called “Otíkova lávka” – in the exact place where he walked in 1985 during the filming of the famous film.
He subsequently accepted an invitation to 5th annual benefit evening of the Jiří Menzel Endowment Fund. The actor was so excited by the idea of supporting artists in need that he plans to start talking about a similar concept of help in his native Hungary as well. where similar activities are covered so far only by acting unions.
He was a lucky choice for the film
János Bán studied chemical engineering, but after graduation he decided to go to the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Budapest. He worked in theaters all over Hungary. He made his debut in front of the film camera in 1979 in the psychological film Every Wednesday.
When director Gyula Maar made the film Game in the Clouds in 1984, he entrusted the main role to director Jiří Menzl, and János Bán also played one of the characters. Both met in the theater performance The Deer King, which Menzel was preparing in Budapest.
Ban impressed with his defenselessness and comic talent and he was a lucky choice for the film Vesničko má středisková. The young Hungarian actor literally became famous with the film, and three years later he starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film Red Heat.
“Until Vesnička was nominated for an Oscar, I didn’t get any awards for my work in Hungary. But when they found out at home that I was going to the Oscars, I immediately got the highest national award that an actor could get in Hungary at that time. The Hungarians wanted to overtake the Americans,” recalled Bán in 2011 at the opening ceremony of the Art Film Fest International Film Festival.
