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Beresina, Or The Last Days Of Switzerland
''Beresina, or the Last Days of Switzerland'' (german: Beresina oder Die letzten Tage der Schweiz) is a 1999 satiric comedy film by Swiss director Daniel Schmid. It chronicles the story of Irina, a Russian call girl arriving in Switzerland, whose innocent attempt to live the high life there triggers an unintended ''coup d'état'' in the country. The title ''Beresina'' refers to the '' Beresinalied'', a patriotic song used as the code for initiating the putsch. The film is a black comedy where all aspects of Swiss life are satirized in anecdotes. The heroine deals with a retired P-26 officer who appears as her false "sponsor" and various sexual perverts at the top of Swiss social hierarchy. Their attitudes to immigrants are also depicted ironically. Even the national identity and modern history of Switzerland are caricaturized in the country's first ever ''coup d'état'' sequences. The film culminates with Irina's coronation as Queen of Switzerland. ''Beresina'' was screene ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daniel Schmid
Daniel Walter Schmid (26 December 1941 – 5 August 2006) was a Swiss theatre and film director. Biography In 1982, his film '' Hécate'' was entered into the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival. His film '' Beresina, or the Last Days of Switzerland'' was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. In 1988, he was a member of the jury at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival. A new documentary film on Schmid's life, ''Daniel Schmid – Le chat qui pense'', had its U.S. premiere at the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco on 20 June 2011. Filmography / works *1967: ' (dir. George Moorse) (assistant director; TV film) *1967: ''Claire'' (dir. Peter Lilienthal) (assistant director; TV film) *1967: '' Abgründe'' (dir. Peter Lilienthal) (assistant director; TV film) *1969: '' Samuel Beckett'' (dir. Rosa von Praunheim) (cinematographer; short film) *1970: '' Thut alles im Finstern, eurem Herrn das Licht zu ersparen'' (director, writer; ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |