Charles-Ferdinand Vaucher

In the forest of Hablikon, the administrator Reichle is found shot dead. He had gone hunting with three other respected citizens of the community. Detective Sergeant Müller takes charge of the investigation. The first suspect is the nephew of one of the hunters, who was also at the scene at the time of the shooting and was on parole from prison. With no clear motive, Müller focuses his attention on the honorable and irreproachable fellow hunters. Their clean facade begins to crumble during his investigations. Village doctor Amsler, banker Meier, and architect Häuptl all had something to hide. Reichle knew about their private and business misdeeds. Müller also learns from Alvine Dünki, the dead man's lover, that money from the community coffers was used for the four men's entertainment. The murderer is convicted after the crime is reconstructed.

War mobilization in 1939: the clumsy Läppli, a loudmouth and busybody, is imprisoned for anti-military speeches. When he is later promoted to officer's orderly, he continues his mischievous behavior. He acts without suspicion, comes across as slightly dim-witted, a silly simpleton, talks nonsense and, in his harmless naivety, repeatedly creates situations that make us laugh at the malice of chance or stubborn militarism. His environment, the officers' staff area, is portrayed with irony, but without malicious scorn.

Switzerland in the 13th century: Shot in the middle of World War II, this classic film returns to the origins of Switzerland and turns about the problem of the small country against a big power: Resist or obey?