Chris the Swiss, feature film
Švicar Chris / Chris the Swiss
In German with Slovenian subtitles
Croatia, January 1992. In the midst of the Yugoslav Wars, Chris, a young Swiss journalist is found dead under mysterious circumstances. He was wearing the uniform of an international mercenary group. Anja Kofmel was his cousin. As a little girl, she used to admire this handsome young man; now a grown-up woman, she decides to investigate his story, trying to understand what really was the involvement of Chris in the conflict …
Chris the Swiss is the story of a young Swiss who got lost in a dark and brutal world.
Written and Directed by: Anja Kofmel
Cinematography: Simon Guy Fässler
Head of Animation: Simon Eltz
Art Director: Serge Valbert
Music: Marcel Vaid
Sound Design: Markus Krohn
Editing: Stefan Kälin
Voices: Joël Basman (Chris), Susanne-Maria Wrage (pripovedovalka v nemščini/German Narrator), Megan Gay (pripovedovalka v angleščini/English Narrator)
Producers: Samir, Sinisa Juricic, Heino Deckert, Iikka Vehkalahti
Production: Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG, Nukleus Film, MA.JA.DE. Filmproduktion, IV Films
Distribution: Urban Distibution International, Nukleus Film
20 years after Chris died, his cousin, director Anja Kofmel goes hunting for clues. Beginning with the day of his death and with Chris’ diary as a guide, she starts to retrace his last steps. Her courageous investigation leads to Chris’ family members and contemporary witnesses such as his journalist comrades, mercenaries of the PIV and even to ex-terrorist “Carlos the Jackal”, all personalities who were deeply involved in this war.
I decided to mix animation and documentary in order to cope with the complex subject. I’m capturing my research and my encounters with contemporary witnesses by means of a classical documentary, whereas the animation allows me to interpret the story and bring the cruelty and despair of war to life in a subjective way.
My cousin’s story leads me into an eerie world dominated by men who stir up hatred and intimidate the civilization to reach their power-driven goals.
It shows me how fragile the structures of our society are, how little it takes to corrode a peaceful cohabitation – not only in former Yugoslavia but anywhere in the world.
- Anja Kofmel
Awards (selection):
- Golden Zagreb Award at Animafest Zagreb, 2018
- Grand Jury Prize for best feature film at Anibar Animation Festival, 2018
- Grand Prize at Festival Européen du Film Fantastique de Strasbourg, 2018
- Official Selection Cannes Critic’s Week 2018