Friday, April 28, 2017

Family friendly films showcased at the 1st Swiss Film Festival


Beat the summer heat with family friendly films as the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines, in partnership with the Shangri-La Plaza Mall and the Film Development Council of the Philippines present the inaugural edition of the Swiss Film Festival.

The festival will feature three films for the whole family, Heidi, Vitus, and Rascals on the Road/Mein Name ist Eugen, shown over two weekends (April 28-30, 2017 and May 5-7, 2017) at Cinema 4 of the Shang Cineplex. And just like every foreign language film festival at the Shang, admission is free, on a first come, first served basis.

The Swiss Film Festival is just one of the events lined up by the Embassy in celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and the Philippines.

Here is the lineup of the three films to be screened at the festival.

Heidi


Director: Alain Gsponer
Cast: Anuk Steffen, Bruno Ganz, Katharina Schüttler, Quirin Agrippi, Isabelle Ottmann, and Anna Schinz


Based on the cherished children’s classic book by Johanna Spyri, Heidi (2015) tells the story of young orphan girl Heidi, who, after being cared for by her Aunt Dete, is brought to the Swiss Alps to live with her reclusive grandfather. The relationship between grandfather and granddaughter is not easy at first but they quickly form a bond. Heidi learns to love the mountains and becomes friendswith a goat herder named Peter. Heidi’s carefree days with her grandfather abruptly ends when Aunt Dete takes her to live in Frankfurt.

Vitus


Director: Fredi Murer
Cast: Teo Gheorghiu, Bruno Ganz, Julika Jenkins, and Urs Jucker


Released in 2006, Vitus, played by Teo Gheorghiu, is a highly gifted pianist at the age of 12. His parents mean well, but are over-protective, so Vitus rebels and seeks refuge with his grandfather who loves flying. After faking a head injury, Vitus secretly amasses a fortune on the stock market. The money allows his grandfather to purchase a Pilatus PC-6 and his father to return triumphantly to the company that had fired him previously. Vitus pursues his former babysitter, Isabel, but she prefers someone older and does not return his affections. Vitus returns to his piano and performs Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto on stage with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.

Rascals on the Road/Mein Name ist Eugen


Director: Michael Steiner
Cast: Manuel Häberli, Janic Halioua, Dominic Hänni, Alex Niederhäuser, and Beat Schlatter


From the literary classic by Klaus Schädelin, Mein Name ist Eugen / Rascals on the Road (2005) is a coming of age story set in the 1960s, and tells of 12-year-old Eugen and Wrigley's last summer of adventure. When Wrigley's parents announce their intention to pack him off to boarding school, the boys run away, hoping to find Fritzli Bühler, the “King of Rascals” in Zurich.

But then Eugen and Wrigley bump into their Scouts group on the train and feel forced to join them to Ticino. From there they escape again and attempt to cycle back to Zurich, but the boys' disappearance is noticed and their parents get on their trail. As the boys continue their precarious journey over their Alps, they begin to doubt whether Fritzli Bühler really lives in Zurich and whether he actually exists at all.

According to the press kit, Heidi will be shown in English while both Vitus and Rascals on the Road/Mein Name ist Eugen will be shown with English subtitles. After the initial Shang Cineplex run, the films are expected to go on tour and be screened in various parts of the country.

Here is the screening schedule of the Swiss Film Festival.

April 28, 2017
2:00 PM Heidi
4:30 PM Rascals on the Road
7:00 PM Vitus

April 29, 2017
2:00 PM Vitus
4:30 PM Heidi
7:00 PM Rascals on the Road

April 30, 2017
2:00 PM Rascals on the Road
4:30 PM Vitus
7:00 PM Heidi

May 5, 2017
2:00 PM Vitus
4:30 PM Heidi
7:00 PM Rascals on the Road

May 6, 2017
2:00 PM Rascals on the Road
4:30 PM Vitus
7:00 PM Heidi

May 7, 2017
2:00 PM Heidi
4:30 PM Rascals on the Road
7:00 PM Vitus