Bittersweet: Swiss films in Denkmark
27.09.2005
Thirteen Swiss feature, documentary, and short films from the past five years have been invited to Denmark, the “miraculous film country”, where they will be shown at the Cinemathek in Copenhagen from October 1-21, 2005, and at the Aarhus from October 17 to 23, 2005. Present for the festive festival opening on October 1, are Greg Zglinski with actress Gabriela Muskala (Labinota in “One Long Winter Without Fire”), Oliver Paulus (“When the Right One Comes Along”), and Laurent Nègre (“Schenglet”). The group will also be meeting with Danish filmmakers. This event was initiated by the Swiss Embassy and the film organization SWISS FILMS, with the cooperation of the Danish Film Institute Cinemathek.
The film program features “bittersweet” Swiss films (Svejisk film - halvbitter og sød), titled after the films’ themes and in allusion to the Swiss trademark of bittersweet chocolate. “The average Swiss contemporary feature film on the eve of the third millennium is a low-budget and digitally shot road movie, whose protagonists explore their own Swissness and/or sense of self while encountering foreign horizons. However, rarely we get to view– since the traditionally established Swiss documentary genre already covers it – political and historical themes (…) The six short films shown in Copenhagen are not only some of the most original Swiss short films of the past years, but also convey a small but significant view of the content and technical variety of contemporary Swiss filmmaking” (Irene Genhart, Introduction, Program booklet).Introduction Dämemark English
Contrary to Danish films shown in Swiss movie theatres, which are — thanks to the Dogma series – internationally renowned, the reverse is rare, and Swiss films are seldom screened in Danish theatres. But who knows, that may change soon.
Zurich, September 27, 2005
Contrary to Danish films shown in Swiss movie theatres, which are — thanks to the Dogma series – internationally renowned, the reverse is rare, and Swiss films are seldom screened in Danish theatres. But who knows, that may change soon.
Zurich, September 27, 2005