Wolkenbruch's wonderful journey into the arms of a Schickse (novel)
Wolkenbruch's whimsical journey into the arms of a Schickse is a book by the Swiss writer Thomas Meyer . It was published in 2012 by Salis Verlag in Zurich and was nominated for the Swiss Book Prize in 2012 . In 2018 it was filmed under the same title by the Swiss director Michael Steiner . The main roles are played by Joel Basman and Noémie Schmidt . The film was the most successful Swiss production in 2018.
action
The young Orthodox Jew Mordechai Wolkenbruch, called Motti, is 25 years old. He lives with his parents in Zurich- Wiedikon , studies economics and helps in his father's insurance company. Motti's dominant mother, Mame, tries unsuccessfully to couple him with a young Jewish woman she knows. A friendly relationship develops with Michèle, one of the women he is introduced to, but without the consequences his parents had hoped for. At university, Motti falls in love with her pretty fellow student Laura, who, as a non-Jewish chicse, is taboo for Motti.
He begins to question the Jewish traditions, to rebel against it and deviates from the life intended for him by his parents, he buys modern glasses and cuts his beard. A rabbi recommends Motti to travel to Israel: He assumes that Motti will reflect on his Jewish origins there and take reason.
In Israel, Motti lives with his uncle's family in modern Tel Aviv . There he met the attractive Michal, who had never seen a woman naked before, and slept with her. Motti returns to Zurich with jeans and a T-shirt that his aunt has chosen for him. Laura notices his new look: she speaks to him and they have a coffee together. Later she takes him to a party in a shared apartment, then they go to Laura's apartment, where they sleep together.
At home, Motti confesses to his mother that he fell in love with a gentile woman, stayed with her and wanted to live his own life. Then he leaves his parents' apartment. The indignant mother has the locks changed and puts his things in a bag in front of the door. Father Moische does not comment. Motti is staying with Thorsten, an acquaintance of his friend Enzo. When Thorsten, who is also in love with Laura, learns that Laura has visited Motti in his apartment or that he is having a relationship with Laura, he throws him out. Whether and how Motti's relationship with Laura will continue remains open.
The book ends with Motti standing at the window of his small room “in the eleventh schtock” of the Marriott Hotel in Zurich and looking out over the Limmat, which is flowing “to somewhere”.
style
As in the last line of the plot, Meyer uses numerous Yiddish words in his text . Since they are typographically not different, this takes some getting used to at the beginning. Most of them are easy to understand, however, with others it is helpful to be pronounced. In addition to many traditional words, there are modern word creations such as blizbrif (e-mail), rechen-maschin (computer) or ofis (office). If in doubt, you can look up a glossary at the end of the book. A recipe for matzo dumplings is also printed.
reception
«Like Woody Allen before him, his prominent kindred spirit, Meyer, who comes from a Jewish family himself, draws from a reservoir of clichés when telling his novel of development, which is also a story of religious emancipation. He sharpened it and, with some chutzpah, created his fictional portrait of the milieu of Orthodox Jews in the Zurich diaspora, which was largely hidden from the public. If his characters come close to you in a pleasant way, it is because Meyer, despite all the joy of caricaturing, looks benevolently at his staff. "
“But despite small inconsistencies, Meyer's novel reads pearly, dizzy and cheeky like unkosher champagne. Or, to put it in the lively melody of the text: eppes chatty, a pisl meschigeh, but oich sejer sejer sis. "
expenditure
- The hardback edition was published in 2012 by Salis Verlag in Zurich. ISBN 978-3-905801-60-6
- In 2014 a paperback edition was published by Diogenes Verlag in Zurich . ISBN 978-3-257-24280-5
- The audio book version was also published by Diogenes Verlag in 2014. It is read by Thomas Meyer himself. ISBN 978-3-257-24280-5
- Italian: Non tutte le sciagure vengono dal cielo. Keller, Rovereto 2015, ISBN 978-8-889-76774-0 .
- Hungarian: Zuhé úr csodálatos utazása egy siksze karjaiba. KuK Publishing, Budapest 2015, ISBN 978-6-155-36119-7 .
continuation
The sequel "Wolkenbruch's daring rendezvous with the spy" was published in 2019 by Diogenes.
Web links
- Review by Beate Tröger in the FAZ on September 18, 2012
- Review by Alexandra Stäheli in the NZZ on November 16, 2012
Individual evidence
- ↑ Zurich Film Festival
- ↑ "Wolkenbruch" is the most successful Swiss film of 2018. Accessed on December 27, 2018 .
- ^ Salis Verlag
- ^ Diogenes Verlag
- ^ Diogenes Verlag
- ↑ Diogenes.ch