Grüninger files
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Grüninger files - The story of a cross-border commuter |
| Original title | Grüninger files |
| Country of production | Switzerland , Austria |
| original language | German , Swiss German |
| Publishing year | 2014 |
| length | 96 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Alain Gsponer |
| script | Bernd Lange |
| production |
Anne Walser Golli Marboe |
| music |
Richard Dorfmeister Michael Pogo Kreiner |
| camera | Matthias Fleischer |
| cut |
Bernhard Lehner Mike Schaerer |
| occupation | |
| |
Grüninger Files - The Story of a Border Crosser is a Swiss feature film that was produced for Swiss television . The television film deals with the events in the late summer of 1938, when Paul Grüninger saved the lives of up to 3,600 Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria by allowing them to enter Switzerland by pre-dating their entry visas. Stefan Kurt played the title role under the direction of Alain Gsponer . The world premiere took place in 2014 as part of the Solothurn Film Festival competition.
action
In August 1938, Switzerland closes its borders to Jewish refugees. In addition, hundreds of people cross the border without a valid visa, especially from Germany and Austria. The head of the Swiss Aliens Police, Heinrich Rothmund, is in charge of checking the illegal border crossings under Swiss law at the time. This orders police inspector Robert Frei, an unscrupulous and religious official, to the canton of St. Gallen, where most border crossings take place. These seem to be borne by parts of the population, with the approval of the St. Gallen police captain, Paul Grüninger. Frei's investigations corroborate the suspicion that police captain Grüninger is allowing Jewish refugees to enter Switzerland without valid visas, falsifying documents and even bringing refugees illegally across the border into Switzerland. Grüninger confesses, but in his opinion he is not acting against the law and thus against state security. His motives are also based on pure humanity. Grüninger's lack of insight and the sight of refugees seeking help cast doubts on Frei about the correctness of his assignment.
When Frei wrote his report, he was in a conflict of conscience. He doesn't want to be responsible for the Jews being sent back and being sent to a concentration camp. When Frei wanted to know why poor Swiss people were helping the refugees, Grüninger explained: "People don't fall around the necks of the Jews, but they don't let them perish at their own door either."
By interrogating escape helpers, Frei found out the names of those who knew about it, including an acquaintance of the Social Democratic government councilor Keel. As a correct official, Frei completes his report. As a person, however, he is looking for a way to help the Jews without violating his duties.
Finally, he confronts Keel with his report and calls on him to stand up for Grüninger at the Federal Council. Keel points out that many Swiss close their eyes and prefer to leave the talking to someone like Rothmund. They agree that Keel will raise the issue in the Federal Council and that Frei will withhold his report until then.
During a confidential conversation, Keel is made aware of the political reality: there is xenophobia in Switzerland, which will increase as more Jews come. The political decision is that Grüninger must be punished and Keel must now drop Grüninger.
Frei is commissioned by Rothmund to support the examining magistrate so that Captain Grüninger can be held accountable for his crimes. Rothmund explains that securing the border will be the most important task in the next few years. When Frei points out that the rejected refugees will be sent to the concentration camp, Rothmund tells him that this question is beyond his competence. Finally, Rothmund explains the political background: "When the European countries have all torn each other apart, we are a prosperous country."
Grüninger is arrested and his helpers are asked to testify against him. When the examining magistrate had the refugee home cleared, he only listed the names of the refugees and left it to Bern to decide who had to be sent back.
background
The Grüninger file was co-produced by Swiss radio and television , the production companies C-Films (Zurich), makido Film (Vienna) and Mecom (Munich) as well as the broadcaster Arte . The television fund Austria provided further support . The shooting under the working title Just One Step took place from October to December 2012 and March 2013 in the canton of St. Gallen and in Austria . The filming locations were St. Gallen , Diepoldsau , Widnau and Mels in Switzerland and Tarrenz , Hall in Tirol , Innsbruck , Jenbach , Kufstein , Lustenau and Hohenems in Austria .
The script mixes historical facts with fictional elements. The central film character of the police inspector Robert Frei, who is sent from Bern to investigate what is going on in St. Gallen, is not historical.
publication
On January 23, 2014, the Grüninger files were shown as the world premiere and opening film of the Solothurn Film Festival . The film was then shown in selected Swiss cinemas. The first TV broadcast in the Swiss Film series was on October 19, 2014 on SRF 1 . Grüninger files - The story of a cross-border commuter is available on BluRay and DVD.
Reviews
Bettina Spoerri pointed out in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung that, despite its theatrical release, the film is primarily a television film production that remains “on the level of aesthetic-visual staging within the conventional framework of pure TV productions”. Nevertheless, he dares to tackle “sensitive and relevant” points in Swiss history, adopting a “serious, even admonishing, tone”. It succeeds “a convincing balance between the concern to narrate close to the historical facts […] and the necessary compression and emotionalization for the fictional genre”.
Christian Junge named Grüninger files as an example of German-speaking Swiss films without attitude. Even if the film offers "upscale entertainment with strong actors", it is hardly memorable. Richard Dindo's documentary Grüninger's Fall from 1997, however, with its reports by Jewish contemporary witnesses, is disturbing and has lasting effects.
Awards
- 2014: Swiss Film Award , nomination as best actor for Stefan Kurt.
Web links
- Website for the film
- Act Green Ingersoll in theInternet Movie Database(English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Grüninger files. Story of a frontier worker. In: Remember.at, National Socialism and Holocaust: Memory and Presence. Retrieved October 15, 2014 .
- ↑ "We are delighted with the controversial discussions!" Article on persoenlich.com from February 6, 2014
- ↑ Grüninger files at the production company C-Films, accessed on October 16, 2014.
- ^ Grüninger files at Mecom Fiction GmbH, accessed on October 16, 2014.
- ↑ Jörg Krummenacher: "Grüninger Files" - Fiction and Facts. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung . January 23, 2014, accessed October 16, 2014 .
- ↑ New SRF Swiss film "Grüninger Files" goes to the cinema. SRF Medien News detailed information, accessed on October 16, 2014.
- ^ SRF Swiss Film: Grüninger Files. ( Memento of the original from October 31, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ↑ Bettina Spoerri: "Grüninger files" - civil courage is a rare thing. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung. January 29, 2014, accessed October 15, 2014 .
- ↑ Christian Junge: Swiss filmmakers offer entertainment without attitude. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 19th January 2014.
