Walter Kägi

Theophil Läppli is a swiss patriot, who after a trip to Greece tries to recover the democratic roots of Switzerland. With much enthusiasm and idealism he's discovering, that corruption and greed are wide spread in his beloved country. This is the second movie about Theophil Läppli after HD-Soldat Läppli (1959).

A man in his fifties returns from America to his native village. Everyone knows that in the New World he served a lengthy prison sentence for manslaughter. He retreats to an isolated quarry in the woods he inherited. There he lives like a hermit, gruffly disencouraging anyone to come near the place.

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.

The film follows a group of 14 Swiss girls during and after their final exams. It shows their little worries, joys, and conflicts during a time of transition from youth to adulthood.