Swiss documentary film in French cinemas
The film “Prud’hommes,” which premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival last year, was released in 15 cinemas in France on June 8, 2011.
07.06.2011
In his film Stéphane Goël captures everyday life in the labour court, referred to as "Prud'hommes" in French-speaking Switzerland and in France. This special court deals with disputes between employers and employees involving dismissals and harassment in the working environment which deeply scar the people concerned. In contrast to France, where it is prohibited to film court proceedings, Goël, a member of Climage, an association of independent filmmakers and directors in Lausanne, succeeded in obtaining permission to shoot the film at the local labour court.
Swiss documentary film productions are being screened more frequently in French cinemas - thanks not least to the subsidization initiated by the Federal Office of Culture and SWISS FILMS in 2007. In the space of one year, the following films were seen on French screens: "Cleveland Versus Wall Street" by Jean-Stéphane Bron; "Die Frau mit den 5 Elefanten" by Vadim Jendreyko; "Toumast - entre guitare et Kalashnikov" by Dominique Margot. This autumn "Beyond This Place" by Kaleo La Belle will be screened in France.
Zurich, June 7, 2011