7 Questions for Aidan Gillen

Is this your first time in the Czech Republic?

I was actually here back in 2002, spending three months in Prague shooting Shanghai Knights. Later, I returned with a friend, so it didn't take much to convince me to come to Zlín. Nowadays, promoting a film is crucial; finding a distributor is no easy task. On top of that, we wanted to see how audiences outside of Ireland would react to Trad.

What have the reactions been like?

The feedback has been thoroughly positive. It is never explicitly stated, but music is a vital thread running through the entire film. Here, music truly functions as a language. Especially in Europe, where there is still a strong tradition of almost everyone playing a musical instrument, it plays a massive role. At one point, people in the audience started tapping their feet, which is something we hadn't experienced anywhere else yet.

You personally introduced the film at the Zlaté Jablko cinema along with director Lance Daly and Dallán Woods. What did people ask about most frequently? 

They asked about the location where we shot—about that strange house. The story of Trad is genuinely based on a real person and the place where he lived. He was this eccentric guy who supported up-and-coming musicians and artists. And I must say, everyone who appeared in the film approached their role very naturally, and they are outstanding musicians. Megan Nic Fhionnghaile, who plays the lead, made her acting debut here, and even though she is a wonderful actress, at nineteen years old she declared that this one experience was enough for her.

What about you? Were you part of the punk scene when you were young? Or were you more of the university type, focused on a specific goal? 

I never went to university. I moved from the countryside to London quite early on and started knocking on producers' and directors' doors. Film and music are as essential to me as breathing the air. In my youth, I used to crash on friends' couches, and I recently went to see a film by one of them who passed away. When I was in need, he would lend me money or a car. And if you happen to have those means later on, it is incredibly important to help others.

Hollywood and Zlín. How would you compare these two worlds?

I have never really been one for major festivals. I’ve never even been to Cannes, and I don't care much for Hollywood. Festivals like Zlín suit me perfectly. That is why I regularly go to Krakow, and I am heading to Transylvania shortly. I have been in the film industry for 17 years, and this film will likely lose money. It is not my film, but a friend's, and I hope this promotion helps him at least a bit. That is why I got involved.

How do you feel in Zlín? What have you managed to see so far? 

We arrived yesterday afternoon, so I haven’t had the chance to catch any films or walk around the city yet. My schedule is completely packed. The view from the window is lovely, though, so I hope to see more. The atmosphere here is very pleasant, and the people are kind. In fact, when I was traveling to Zlín and mentioned it to my neighbors back home in Ireland—one of whom happens to be a well-known writer—the reactions were nothing but positive.

Are you familiar with Czech cinema? Do you have a favorite film?

Naturally, I am familiar with Miloš Forman's films. If I had to choose one, it would be The Unbearable Lightness of Being.