CAGED BIRDS
Switzerland, 2020, 118 minutes, Colour.
Marie Leuenberger, Joel Basman, Jella Haas, Pascal Ulli, Bibiana Beglau.
Directed by Oliver Rihs.
This title is evocative but the original German-language title is more striking, Until I Die or am Free.
A rather sombre story focusing on two quite disparate characters whose lives intertwine. The setting is German-speaking Switzerland at the end of the 1970s and into the 1980s (and, ultimately into the 1990s). There is quite some protest against brutality in prisons.
The film is based on actual characters and events.
The first character is Barbara Hug, a lawyer who takes on cases defending prisoners, stating that Switzerland itself is a prison. She has her own personal difficulties, especially a case of a male-functioning kidney which requires medication and treatment, her walking with a stick. However, she can be a fiery person, defending her clients even as she collapses to the floor.
The other character is Walter Sturm, son of a wealthy industrialist but alienate it from him and protesting against him (and disowned by his father). He has become a thief, wily, shrewd, but frequently arrested and incarcerated. However, he also has a talent for escape, and a national reputation for his many escapes. The audience sees him initially getting out of jail, disguised as a policeman, moving through a strong protest, commandeering vehicles, stealing briefcases of documents – which, he offers to Barbara.
They travel to Germany to meet with some of the leading protesters, who have been violent in protest during the 1970s but who are trying to find alternative methods. There are quite some emotional complications with the group. The German-language title of the film is that of a biography that Water writes while in prison.
Matters do not quite work out as they, or we, might have anticipated, a number of disappointments, moments of disillusionment, touches of tragedy.
- German-Swiss production? German Switzerland, the 1970s to the 1990s?
- Based on actual characters? Their portraits, interactions, heritage?
- The title, the original title of Walter’s book, Until I Die or Set Free?
- The prison situation in Switzerland, the comment that Switzerland itself was a prison? The picture of police, prisoners, treatment, solitary, hunger strikes, physical abuse?
- The focus on Barbara, legal background, relationship with her mother, kidney ailment, foot crippled? Her causes, Switzerland is a prison, her collaboration with Roger and Felix, tensions in the office? Her defence of Heike, the encounter with Meret? The later connections? Her encounter with Walter, his complaints about prison, muesli? The encounter with him, in the park, the documents, her using them to rouse public opinion?
- Walter, his background, wealthy industrial father, his rebellion, his father’s denunciations? A thief, prison, his numerous escapes, escaping during the protests, from the window, the uniform, driving the police vehicle, with his documents, getting through? Further escapes, his pride in escaping? His philosophy of life, for freedom?
- The contact with Merit, travelling to Switzerland, the difficulties with Barbara at the border, feigning an attack? Meeting with Meret and the other protesters, Heike? The recognition of Walter, proving himself, opening the safe? The group, Meret and her SS father and her rebellion? The young women? Walter and his relationship with Heike? Eventually breaking down, her provocations, his ousting her?
- Walter, the background of robberies, the bank, his partner, the injury to the elderly teller, his trying to support her? His time in jail, getting out?
- Barbara, her physical condition, supportive of Walter, working with him, urging him to write his book? His being in prison, her visits?
- Roger, his work with Barbara, Felix, her ousting him, but his meeting her later, Roger still working with her?
- Walter, the escape, the protesters setting him free? Travelling to Spain, on the beach with Barbara, trying to get her to float in the Walter? His turning on her, going back and going to prison again? The treatment by the guards, the hunger strike, Barbara visiting, urging him to write? His completing his book, the publication?
- Defying Barbara, the impact on her?
- 14 years passing, Barbara, her mother, the previous visits to her doctor and his advice, her being willing to have a transplant? Walter, free, his visit, the muesli, writing the note, bringing the flowers? Back to prison?
- The end, contrast, life and death, freedom, Walter asphyxiating himself, Barbara getting the new kidney, swimming in the water?
