THE BOAT IS FULL

Switzerland, 1981, 100 minutes, Colour.
Tina Engel, Kurt Bois.
Directed by Marcus Imhoof.

The Boat Is Full is a striking Swiss film, the first made by its writer director Marcus Imhoof. The material is familiar, but the treatment is sound, impressive and moving. It is another portrait of a group of refugees, however their dangerous escape has bought them into Switzerland with the problems about their remaining in the country. They are suspiciously but well received by the people of the village, asked to go back by the authorities and finally sent back. The final captions, as might be expected, indicates the tragic deaths of those involved.

As a portrait of a group of Jewish refugees, the film is low key, compassionate, and moving. As a glimpse of the Swiss response to the war situation the film is vivid and ultimately condemnatory. It seems, in some way, to be an examination of conscience, of Swiss attitudes of neutrality. Distancing the action to a period when conscience was important, the film implies questions for Switzerland in the 80's . The acting is excellent, the atmosphere well communicated, the tension very strong. This the kind of film that could well be seen by a universal audience. It is also an interesting example of the potential of Swiss filmmakers.

1. The title of the film and its meaning? Accident, survival? Impact on people wanting to survive? The film's Oscar nomination? Awards? especially for humanity? Entertainment, interest? History, conscience? Relevance today?

2. The quality of the production? A first film by the director? His skill? Quality? Compassion?

3. Colour photography, Switzerland in the '40s, the village, the escape from German occupied countries? The countryside, atmosphere? Editing and pace? The use of locations, the town, the way of life? The re-creation of the war period?

4. The opening with the drama of the tunnel, the train, the dramatics of the escape, the expectations of the characters? Expectations of the audience? The escapees, the risks, the train stop, dangers, the soldier helping and joining them? The introduction to risk? The experience of the refugee group in the village and their suffering, going on? The epilogue with the sad information about what happened to each?

5. Anni and her husband: the encounter with the refugees, never having seen them, ordinary Swiss folk, their reactions, suspicion? Generosity, caution? The welcome, the food? Washing and the lice? The decision to conceal? The advice of the minister? The plans? France and anti-Semitism? The change in their way of life? The detail of the hospitality scenes - the long eating scene, reflections? The role of the police - doing their duty, the letter of the law? The law and exceptions? A Swiss view of the situation? The severity, the fear? The contrast of the ordinary day of the Swiss during the war with the experience of the refugees? The farm, the customers in the restaurant? The inn and its food, shelter? Judith and the phone calls? The old man and the pork? The boy and the bath? The decision to change identities and keeping the boy quiet? Healing wounds?

6. The focus on Judith: her strength, her command of the situation? Her desperation for the phone call? Talking to Hanez? The plan? Her humane understanding of each? The phone and the revelation, sitting on the ground, Bigler? The escape? The jail and Hanez? The pathos of the ending? A vivid portrait of a woman?

7. Hanez, the jail, the phone call, the escape and his being covered, the bike, the riding, being caught, reunited with Judith?

8. The shooting, Schneider, the old man and his Jewish background, the children, especially the French boy? Their fates?

9. The minister and his help? Religious concern and the transcending of denominations?

10. Bigler, the police and their attitudes, jail?

11. The film's attention to detail? The portrait of the neighbours, their curiosity, the help?

12. The group and their fears, their backgrounds, their having to change identities, the tension in keeping their disguises, their being tested by the police, the finding out of the truth, their being moved along ?the Swiss boat being full?

13. The emotional experience of the film: sense of humanity, loss, suffering, death, refugees and exile, pain, hope and hopelessness? The range of men and women, age groups, religions, nationalities? The title and its theme: refugees and their need, the comment on Swiss neutrality, the criticism of the law, selfishness? The epilogue and the audience being left with the tragic information?