Academy Awards

Set in 1900, THUNDER (original title: FOUDRE) tells the story of 17-year-old Elisabeth (performed by French actress Lilith Grasmug), who is about to take her vows as a nun. After the sudden death of her older sister, however, she is forced to return to her family after five years in the convent to help them with the arduous work on the farm in the mountain village. Elisabeth is no longer a child, and the mysteries surrounding her sister’s death prompt her to fight for her right to self-determination and to rebel against the strict expectations of the village community.

In its statement on THUNDER, the jury wrote: “Set in an archaic mountain scenery, liberation and sisterhood are at the center of this timely feminist period film. Carmen Jaquier’s uniquely sensual first feature skillfully explores sexuality and faith and captivates with its nuanced mise-en-scène and evocative imagery.”

THUNDER was produced by the renowned Geneva-based Close Up Films. Producers Joëlle Bertossa and Flavia Zanon have made a name for themselves with high-profile feature films and documentaries and as committed partners in international coproductions like I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO and THE PLOUGH. Films and coproductions by Close Up Films are regularly selected for major international festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, Cannes and Venice.

Festival successes and awards

Following its world premiere in the prestigious Platform section at TIFF, FOUDRE was screened at festivals in San Sebastian, Vancouver, Busan, Dublin, Sydney, Munich – to name just a few of its nearly 20 festival showings.

Festivals around the world have honoured FOUDRE with numerous awards, including a Special Mention in the Focus Competition and the Emerging Swiss Talent Award at the Zurich Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize in Rome and the award for Best Director in Marrakesh. Furthermore, the film garnered two Swiss Film Awards (Best Sound / Best Film Score).

Promising directorial talent

Director Carmen Jaquier studied Film and Screenwriting at ECAL Lausanne and HEAD Geneva and has made several award-winning short films. At this year’s Festival de Cannes, she was honoured as “Emerging Talent” as part of the Women in Motion Awards. She was selected by European Film Promotion to participate in the “Europe! Voices of Women in Film” talent programme at the Sydney Film Festival in June.

World sales for FOUDRE have been acquired by WTFilms, Paris. The film has already had a successful run in Swiss cinemas (Sister Distribution) and has so far been sold to Canada (Axia Films), France/Benelux (La 25ème Heure) and Eastern Europe (HBO), as well as to Dekanalog in the USA: We are thrilled to bring THUNDER, Carmen Jaquier's sumptuous tale of turn of the 20th century teenage faith and desire to North American audiences,” exclaimed Lysa Le at Dekanalog.

SWISS FILMS supports the Oscar campaign

On behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC), the promotion agency SWISS FILMS coordinates the selection process of the official Swiss entry for the International Feature Film competition of the Academy Awards and supports the promotion campaign of Switzerland’s entry with financial and communication resources.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood will announce the short list on December 21, followed by the five nominated films on January 23, 2024. The Oscars will be awarded at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 10, 2024.

THUNDER will screen at Locarno Film Festival in the section Panorama Suisse on Tuesday, August 8, 11:00 Palexpo (FEVI)

SWISS FILMS, Locarno, August 4, 2023

Interviews with Carmen Jaquier:

• Variety Carmen Jaquier on ‘Thunder,’ ‘a Historical Movie That Tackles Present-Day Issues’
• Cineuropa Carmen Jaquier, Director of ‘Thunder’: "I needed to rewrite history, to create a powerful ancestor capable of inspiring me today."
• Fade to Here Carmen Jaquier on feminism and film and her debut feature