Jan Krause's brother Ivan: He emigrated, refused amnesty and lived a difficult life in exile

Jan Krause's brother: Ivan as his double. Emigration, the threat of prison and the rejected amnesty

Jan Kraus is not an only child and his family hides stories that few people know. One of his siblings is his older brother Ivan, who once left Czechoslovakia and spent many years abroad before returning to his homeland.

Leaving home was not easy

Ivan Kraus, today a writer, actor and puppeteer, had a difficult youth. His partner in life became the puppeteer Naděžda Munzarová, with whom he raises his stepdaughter Johana, whom Jan Krause's brother considers his own. Shortly after the Soviet occupation in 1968, the family went to Paris, where they had legal theater engagements, but soon found themselves in exile as the borders were closed.

Life abroad was not easy. Acting in the theater was not enough to make a living, so Ivan and his family had to alternate between different jobs - from cleaning to painting to laying tiles. "When we were leaving, mom said to me: think of dad, Auschwitz. That gave me the strength to survive difficult times," admitted Ivan Kraus in the 13th Chamber program.

Threat of prison and rejected amnesty

Emigration also had legal consequences. In 1975, Ivan and his wife were sentenced to an unconditional sentence of one year for leaving the republic. In 1988, the president offered them amnesty, which they both refused. They returned home only after the Velvet Revolution in 1990. "I didn't even believe that I would ever return. I was surprised that the Czech Republic was free again," recalls Ivan.

Family support

Of the five siblings, four emigrated, only Jan stayed at home and became the support of his parents. "He did a great job in the unexpected role he was given. He is a big plus for me," said Ivan Kraus to the website Prima Ženy.

Close relationship after return

After returning to the Czech Republic, the brothers maintain close contact. Ivan continued his puppet career and also became a writer, his books were read on Czech Radio. "It doesn't really matter what a person is, but if they have something good, I like them. No one is without faults," he says about his relationship with his brother.

Since 1991, the brothers have been releasing CDs together and recording in Prague's Voila theater, where they read from their books. In addition to the family bond, they are also united by a work and creative partnership.