Amerika

AMERIKA

Thank you.

- Something that entices me here. - What entices you?

If I knew what it was, then I could put my finger on it.

Well, what is it then?

I have family here, so I thought I'd come,

and there wouldn't be many tourists, since summer is over, but...

- They're everywhere. - Yep.

All taking the same photos and I took the same photos as them,

but I was looking for something else.

My family's Czech, so I shouldn't be having the tourist experience here.

What makes you want to go to the forest?

I wanted to try it.

- To try what? - Sleeping out in the open.

Breathing in the air...

You can sleep anywhere you want here?

- Yes! - I mean, it's legal?

I think every Czech has slept in the forest.

Where's my bag?

Good.

All right?

- So you're English? Or American? - English? No, Canada!

Maybe they have some beer left here.

- Good evening. - Hi there.

- Want a beer? - Yes, please.

- A ten-degree? - Yeah.

- 56 crowns. - Make it 60.

This is normal for these guys?

- They're just typical Czechs. - What?

Typical Czechs.

- But they're... - They're Czech "tramps".

People head out more in camouflage now. But Western is better.

- From the cowboy days. - The cowboy days...

- So you are you a "tramp"? - What?

- Are you a tramp? - I am.

- They call me "Drak". - Drak? As in "Dragon"!

I can't imagine people doing this in Canada.

- It still needs a bit... - A bit longer?

A bit.

But it is salty enough now.

So play me something.

Before the food's ready?

- You know, I play a lot with a band. - With a band?

- What's the band called? - Johannes Benz.

It's totally out of tune though.

Again.

- Did you write that? - Yep.

I wanted to go to America and play songs there.

- Songs? - And be famous, you know.

Bob Dylan.

Like everyone does.

- We also want that... - Yeah?

Sure, to be Bob Dylan.

- Why did you want that? - Because of the songs.

- Because of American songs? - Yeah.

I don't know if that's good though. So here I am.

How come you don't sleep well?

I guess something's broken.

- Like what's broken? - Well...

Some dream of mine.

Thanks.

I've been away a few times, somewhere else, and it was like...

It felt so good...

Just walk and be away.

Just walk...

We don't think about our feet taking steps,

but about where our feet are taking us.

I admit, I can't quite figure this out.

I don't know what time it is, or even what direction...

Man... Damn it.

- So I guess we're walking. - I guess so.

We'll walk.

- Do you live in the forest? - I live in the forest.

- All by yourself? - All by myself.

- Don't you get bored? - No.

I don't get bored.

- Hi, Franta. - Now, Franta was a real tramp.

Every inch a tramp.

So we clubbed together and had a plaque made for him.

So whenever a tramp passes by they can say hello to him.

And his ashes are here too?

No, we scattered his ashes in the Sázava river.

Karel!

- Hey! - Who's that?

We were just talking with Franta.

In the winter here, I feel like Jack London.

- Like Jack London? - I feel like Jack London here.

I like the hard, nasty winters best of all.

And why Jack London? Have you read any of his books?

Jesus Christ! He was our bread and butter back then!

When I was in school, and even later on.

Pulp westerns and what not...

- We were little cowboys. - Really?

We used to come here with loaded guns.

And then they busted us and that was that.

In the pub over there, U Starcu, the ceiling is full of our bullets.

That's all over with now, nothing ever happens here now,

and no bands play here anymore...

I'm going to wait for winter.

You see cormorants flying over the water,

they catch a fish, bite its head off, and throw it onto the riverbank.

I always just walk along the bank, collect them and cook them up.

- Hey, a well. - Oh! Water.

Here, I'll take it.

Nature is the heart of it. You live in nature, you're free.

You feel good.

Nobody tells you what to do. You do whatever you want.

- And that's how you live here? - That's how I live here.

All year round.

- You always wanted to live outdoors? - I did.

I thought I'd stay in Prague while the kids were young.

But then I'd leave. I wouldn't stay in Prague.

But doesn't it ever get sad out here?

It does. But let's talk mushrooms! I'll show you something.

- This is a 'horn of plenty'. - Horn of plenty.

'Red cracking bolete'.

- 'Bedla'. - Berla?

Bedla.

- Here's a little bolete. - Oh I forgot it already.

Bolete, ok...

How'd you learn which mushrooms you can eat?

I've been picking them since I was 2.

- You've got two? - Yep.

They're seriously tiny.

We'll take it.

I have to put it back, don't I?

Well....

- You can't keep one so small. - Not that small, no.

- So, see you later. - Bye bye.

I really don't know how she does it every day,

seven times without falling.

"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose." Janis Joplin.

She might find out I stole a kitten off her.

You took one?!

It's nice that you can just head out on a walk like this...

You don't have to worry about getting eaten by something.

That here...

You're actually free to do what you want.

And I think it's a chance to have...

Like a different kind of freedom. Like you have a choice.

So many things...

- Do you want a bun? - Maybe a roll.

- Which one? - The nutty one.

I'll take milk chocolate.

- Thank you. Bye. - Good bye.

So, are you happy you have a Coke at last?

- I like Coke! - Really?

I always end up drinking only half of it.

I mean, I had a can like this on display when I was little.

It's a symbol for me too, but...

More of a symbol of America destroying everything.

- Really? - Well, isn't it?

Excuse me, sorry, do you have the time?

Hey, do you have the time?

Could you find out somewhere for us?

- OK. - Thanks.

Fifty... Thank you.

You have to trust me a bit, OK?

When I was a kid, I always played this game,

when we went somewhere by car, on a trip or whatever,

I'd pretend I saw horses.

Horses running by the car.

And it was kind of my secret.

My parents didn't know about it.

Maybe that's why the tramps dreamt they were cowboys going somewhere.

Yeah, exactly, I mean...

That's why I thought I'd like tramps, that we shared a similar dream.

Straight-up, I'm singing straight-up,

Straight-up, I'm singing straight-up,

Just get on your way, and don't don't go look for me,

I tell you straight up as can be.

Home,

Home, from Kentucky home,

Home, from Kentucky home.

Cowboy Johnny went quietly...

- You're also a bit lost, huh? - Pretty much.

- Let's ask someone. - Yeah?

- But somebody who might know. - There, he's got a nice hat.

Let's try to find a "tramp".

- Yeah? Go on then. - OK.

- Excuse me, sir, could you tell me... - Hello.

We're just wondering where to go,

could tell us some places in the wild we could go...

For tramping? Golden River, Big River, Old River, Brdy, Kokorínsko.

- Thanks a lot. - Bye bye.

Take care.

So we still don't know where we're going.

Maybe we can just go where the first train goes.

Do you know how to whistle like this?

- Like that? - Hang on...

Nope.

- Are we allowed in there? - Let's try it. I think we are.

This is Bára, she's a friend.

Don't you have pretty pigtails, and cold little mitts!

Hi.

Sure! Throw it back. It's an honor to the land!

- It's only 5 years old. - And such is our life here!

- I'll go get a beer. - Have some of this.

That one's already flat.

Don't be so picky.