Eternal Jožo

Jan Gogola Jr. began filming a portrait documentary with the frontman of Elán in 2011. The result is a strange documentary form that reveals not so much the life, past or present of Ráž, but rather the documentarian's constantly failing efforts to really get close to him. A strange friendship develops between Ráž and Gogola (the two repeatedly refer to each other as friends). But whenever the director moves from more general and metaphysical questions to real-life attitudes, Jozo seems to be at a loss for how to respond. The film is thus, to some extent, as much about the Elan star as it is about Gogola himself and his efforts to make his own point through straightforward questions and strange gifts. The only moments of harmony and understanding we see are on that metaphysical plane and conversations about God and the universe.