THE SWISS MAKERS
Switzerland, 1978, 103 minutes, Colour.
Emile Steinberger, Walo Luond.
Directed by Rolf Lyssy.
The Swiss Makers was a very popular film in its time. It focuses on Swiss authorities and their investigations of foreigners applying for Swiss citizenship. This gives the opportunity to roll out all the caricatures and clichés and stereotypes about the Swiss – as well as some of those of the nationalities of people applying for citizenship, including Germans and Italians.
The film focuses on the police and their investigations as well as the attempts by the various people to get their citizenship – and the humorous mistakes they make.
While the film was released in the late 1970s, it obviously has some relevance to experiences in Europe in later decades especially with the variety of migrations in the European Union.
1. An entertaining and funny film? Its universal appeal? The work of the Swiss film industry? Influence of television production?
2. The basic appeal of comedy, satire? The significance of the title? The credits sequence? The indication of satire about the Swiss, their pretensions, demands, attitudes towards their neighbours? The essence of being Swiss?
3. The humour of the plot? its serious framework, the facts of people becoming Swiss citizens? The interrogations? Bureaucracy? Audience reaction to the satiric presentation of bureaucracy? The ability of the Swiss to criticise themselves?
4. The initial focus on the training of the inspectors? The initial talk and the mockery of the characteristics of the Swiss? The further mocking during the interrogations, the spying on the would be citizens? The ambiguous and humorous satiric dialogue?
5. Bodmer as a comic character? As embodying the pretensions of the bureaucratic Swiss? his self-importance and pomposity? his serious approach to things? Seeing him at work, with his assistant? his beliefs, his not questioning his beliefs? The eccentric manifestations? his loyalty to the State? The domestic sequences, personal mannerisms, relationship with his wife? his training of Fischer? his reaction to each of the candidates, interfering in their lives, watching, on the lookout to trap them? The jokes at his expense?
6. The contrast with Fischer - the naive young man following Bodmer, helping him? Audience comparisons between the two? Fischer and the audience seeing through Bodmer? Fischer's change?
7. The portrait of the girl, her hopes for her Swiss citizenship, her theatrical career, dancing, her friends? The outings? Bodmer's thinking about drugs and trying to trap her? The trick played on him by Fischer and the girl? Fischer and his falling in love with her, the outings together, her suspicions? Bodmer's visit in the early morning? The decision not to take out Swiss citizenship and to leave Switzerland?
8. The introduction to the doctor? Bodmer and. the mistakes at the asylum? The wife and her seeming to go to the sex shop? The failure of the dinner? The interrogations, the presents? the money in his pocket? The hastening to the interrogation by the committee?
9. The Italian and his politics, the restaurant, the demonstrations?
10. The committee interrogation sequences - a more balanced approach to Swiss citizenship?
11. The scenes of happiness with the doctor and his wife celebrating at the hospital? The Italian family and the humour about William Tell?
12. The contrast with Fischer and his resignation, the girl and her going to Holland? The airport sequence and their leaving Switzerland?
13. The serious undertones behind the self-mockery by the Swiss? The critique of pomposity? The highlighting of Swiss citizenship? The value of being able to laugh at oneself? The insight from laughter?
