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They teach us how to be happy

Lernen glücklich zu sein

Switzerland, August 1996
FILM, Documentary, Experimental, 130 min.

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directed by
Peter von Gunten
Written by
Peter von Gunten
Status
In distribution
Website
www.petervongunten.com

This film exposes us to the gruelling procedures, at the limits of what is psychologically tolerable, which asylum seekers in Switzerland must undergo. We witness not only the spirit-breaking interrogations and the stressful waiting around in the detention camps that are called «Flüchtlingszentren», we also share the intimate worries and anxieties of those making their way through this modern Calvary. At the same time we witness the undying hope of people trying desperately to escape their status as refugees and remain human beings. When all is said and done, the observer is left with the impression that each of these men and women is just a number, listed among the 480,000 fingerprint records in the memory of a central computer.

credits

World Premiere
August 1996
Original Version
Arabic, Italian, French, English, German (french/german subtitles),  colour, 35mm, 130 min.
Production
Cinov Filmproduktion AG, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, RTS Radio Télévision Suisse
Producer
directed by
Peter von Gunten
Written by
Peter von Gunten
Cinemato­graphy
Peter von Gunten, Martin Mühlethaler
Editing
Peter von Gunten
Music
Abu Simbel Ensemble
Location Sound Mix
Rolf Büttikofer, Andreas Litmanowitsch

World Sales / World Rights

World Rights
Cinov Filmproduktion AG

Worldwide Distribution

Switzerland
Filmcoopi Zürich AG Distribution

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