“Once an Indian – an Indian ever” – BBC

In Moscow, came the German actor Gojko Mitic Yugoslav origin – in 1960-70 years he starred in Westerns studio DEFA (GDR). His character in the film “The Sons of Great Bear,” “Chingachgook Big Snake”, “Osceola” were the leaders of the Indian tribes of the second half of the XIX century, who fought against the invaders of their lands. These paintings became hits German and Soviet hire, buy them in the West, and the millions of boys were making a bow and inserted feathers in her hair.

In Moscow Mitic came as the guest of honor of the festival of the peoples of North America “Tipifest” which this year will be held 10 and 11 October. The actor visited the show in the ethnographic park-museum “Ethnomir” for the fourth time and every time happy to participate in the festival. On the eve of the festival Gojko Mitic spoke with reporters “Gazety.Ru».

– How did you become the chief Indian GDR and the Soviet Union?

– It was an accident. I then studied at the Institute and worked in a movie, playing a small cameo. And one day I was called by the secretary of the “Yugoslavia-film” and said that the film crew arrived from Germany, they saw my picture and want to meet me – certainly, at once! I was going to ski, but agreed to a meeting. I was asked in German if I can ride a horse, I said that I could stay in the saddle. They wondered: Do you speak German? I studied German at school and Russian. And the director said, here is our Tokey Ito (the protagonist of the film “The Sons of Great Bear.” – “Times”), this is it! I could not pick up the phone and go skiing, then my life would have gone differently. But I took – and got the chance, which has already failed.

– You just spotted this opportunity?

– I thought it would be just one film but everything turned out differently. Of the 17 million people in the GDR “The Sons of Great Bear” looked at 10 million, and since then it was another 11 paintings, in which I played the Indians. I still did not doubles, and my heroes that was good – the audience believed them.

– In the GDR you it was easy to work and live?

– Yes, good. It is today a different (arms depicts an explosion ) – pff! – That is, it does not happen.

– The destruction of the Berlin Wall, you are met?

– For the citizens of Germany, it was good. And we, the actors, waiting to see what will happen. I already had a normal life, I was in a movie at the theater. In Hamburg I was at that time 15 years playing Winnetou. Once an Indian – an Indian always. But I played in different films of different Indians. It was not a role.

– But your heroes have always been courageous and free.

– Yes, of course, I too am on the side of the Indians. Films in which I played – from a historical point of view a good movie that happened to these people. In one interview, when the US bombed Iraq, I said, they do it because it’s not all “Indians” in the world were on the reservation. Americans simply continued their policy.

Indeed, look how it happened. In the Americas, where they lived the Indians, it was a European war, and no one has asked the Indians, with whom they would like to be.

And they just wanted to keep their land. They believed her mother and they were right.

The earth – a mother to us all, it is necessary to maintain, leave those generations that were not born yet.

Now in Germany a lot refugees – from Syria, from Iraq, they collect help them discuss the problem of power. Who turned them into refugees? They normally live, they were at home, the family, the land – and now it is not present. Now treat the consequences, but do not look for the causes of the incident.

– And you keep placing refugees in Germany?

– Germany supports, and I think it becomes a problem. For example, I read in Swiss newspapers that have created this situation the Americans that Europe was more difficult to live. And who to believe?

– It is said that because of one of the movies with your participation Indians revolted (the incident at Wounded Knee in South Dakota in 1973. – “Times” )?

– I think this is an exaggeration. It is unlikely that this is possible.

– And you met with their heroes?

– Yes, I was the Indians twice. They took me so well! Invited to the powwow, where they meet, exchange gifts, negotiate. One of the Indians who cherish the traditions of his people asked me what my name in the animal world. And I do not have that name – I just played in Indian cinema. And he asked me to find him. I closed my eyes, I saw the wolf, and he said to me: you Wolf. Even before said a word! I do not know how it happened, perhaps accidentally. I only know that I am the Wolf.

– And do you consider yourself a Yugoslav or German actor?

– I was born in Yugoslavia, played in Germany Indians . I believe that I am a citizen of the world.