Soraya Sala

Fredi M. Murer wrote and directed this Swiss drama about a family with a missing child. The only explanation seems to be kidnapping, but no ransom note arrives. Police inspector Anatol Wasser (Hanspeter Muller) soon faces an elaborate mystery: a dozen Swiss children vanish with no indication of any pattern -- other than the fact that they all lived near lakes. Is organized crime responsible, or does the answer lie in mystical realms? Shown at the 1998 Montreal Film Festival.

The film consists of four stories with three episodes each, and a shared end. In the same span of time and action, and with the tones and pace of madcap comedy, each story tells the tale of protagonists coming from the four linguistic regions of the country.

According to true events, the moving drama "The Children of Villa Emma" tells of a dangerous escape that took place during the Second World War. In 1942/1943, the Italian village of Nonantola was indeed a refuge for 73 Jewish children who wanted to escape the merciless access of the National Socialists on their way to the "Promised Land" of Palestine. Director Nikolaus Leytner describes the dangerous journey as an exciting test, presented by a talented young cast.

Philipp Gerber is a smart, but self-satisfied car salesman. In an inattentive moment at the wheel of his car, he runs over a boy on a bike and, instead of helping him, he drives away. As he has feelings of guilt, he tries to find out more about the accident’s victim.

Tabloid reporter Jule learns that her marriage to editor-in-chief Max, which she entered into four years ago, is invalid. Since Max, who has known this for some time, does not ask her to marry him again, she quits her job and moves in with her friend Bianca. A new romance with ex-boyfriend Lukas soon seems to be on the cards. But even Max can't forget Jule...

She is the star of her TV show. Live and night after night. She embodies the feeling of being invincible. When Jennifer Stolz puts on her legendary smile, millions of TV viewers melt away and one in particular: Nikolaus Feldhaus. Nicki loves Jennifer. However, she is unattainable for him. When he gets out, he tries to kidnap Jennifer with the help of his best friend, Koko. The journey sets off in a converted circus van towards the Baltic Sea. On the way there, Nicki has to make it clear to the woman of his dreams that she should walk down the aisle with him. He has exactly 48 hours to do so.

The poor wretch Abesalom is in love with beautiful Lisa. But her family has other plans. They want her to tie the knot with Ilja, the director of a bra-factory. Abesaloms only chance to come up her families expectation and to be with Lisa is to become rich. Luck is with the lovers and Abesalom wins the lottery. In order to receive his fortune he has to travel to the city. On the way he loses his hat and with it the sewn in lottery ticket. The wind carries both to an enchanted wolf's ravine. Losing his chance to ever be with Lisa, Abesalom also seems to lose senses. While Lisa is forced by her family to marry Ilja, Abesalom goes through an amazing metamorphosis...

A border town in the south of Switzerland is the backdrop for the most important summer in 15-year old Samuel’s young life. He is introverted, a loner and communicates through the world of comic drawings. Determined to overcome the doubts and memories that have long plagued him, he hires a former private detective. With him, he embarks on a daring adventure that will lead him to discover a painful family truth.

75-year-old Giuseppe De Metrio has spent 30 years in Geneva, as foreign worker for the Broyer company. Upon retirement, he returned to Puglia, Italy, where his family had continued to live. His only grandchild, 7-year-old Carla, is blind. The whole family looks forward hopefully to the day when Carla's sight can be restored by means of a cornea transplantation. After a heart attack, Giuseppe decides to wait no longer and returns to Switzerland to ask his former boss Mr. Broyer for the money necessary for the operation, as an old promise binds the two men. Intended as a 48-hour trip, Giuseppe and Carla's visit in Switzerland becomes a journey that both grandfather and granddaughter never dreamt of...