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
