AND TOMORROW WE WILL BE DEAD/ Und morgen seid ihr tot

Switzerland/Germany, 2021, 117 minutes, Colour.

Morgane Ferru, Svend Schelker.

Directed by Michael Steiner.

A German Swiss production. And, it is based on a true story, two young German Swiss travelling in Pakistan, abducted by the Taliban, held for more than seven months with the Taliban asking for a ransom.

The audience is invited to identify with the young couple, Daniela and David, his ambition to travel the Silk Road, their young enthusiasm, travels in Asia, rapt in their experience, the amazing scenery, encountering fellow travellers and then venturing into Pakistan, with police guards, then moving out on their own and being ambushed.

The audience is not only invited to identify with the young couple in themselves but also to share the experience of the abduction, the fear and terror, the uncertainties, the mixture of harsh and sympathetic treatment, the interactions with their captors, their being made privy to some of the details of negotiation, allowed to communicate with their families at times, David with a severe bout of malaria, Daniela becoming stronger as the months go by, their decision to escape.

And, in the background, there are scenes of both sets of parents and their concern, discussions with the Swiss authorities, phone calls and letters, a father angry with the delay in negotiations, demands for the release of Taliban prisoners, the escalating amount of ransom money demanded, his compromising the safety of the couple by his rash attempted publicity.

It is something of a shock at the end when, after the escape, they return to Switzerland for a press conference where some of the journalists question the truth of what they are saying, are critical of their going to Pakistan in the first place… As the information is given at the end, the couple did not stay together except for writing a book about their experiences on which this film is based.

1. A contemporary theme, abduction of tourists, ransoms? Government interventions?
2. The introduction to David and Daniela, from Switzerland, their parents, the relationship, David’s dream of The Silk Road, tourists, enjoying the scenery, discussions with the family, going into Pakistan, the boarder, documents, the police escort, going on their own, the abduction?
3. The eight months of their abduction, their fright, fears, the treatment, interactions of the various Taliban and, the young drug taker, the elders, the conditions, food, being moved around, in the village, the friendly people, their supervisor, the visits from the negotiator?
4. The family’s response, the messages, phone calls, demands on the government, angers, the father and his media episode, endangering the family?
5. The government response, negotiations, secrecy, policies about negotiations, payments of ransoms? The family wanting to raise the money?
6. The effect on the couple, the phone calls, the contacts, information? The pressure from their supervisor?
7. The plan for the escape, David and his illness, recovery, the map, the plan, getting out, the pursuit, the escape?
8. The return to Switzerland, the press conference, the hostile journalists and their criticism, disbelief?
9. The couple separating, their own lives, it combining to write this book and memoir?