This captivating drama by Swiss Film Director Markus Imboden sheds light on a dark chapter in Swiss history. For generations, some 100.000 orphans and children of single mothers were place on farms for cheap labor. The practice continued until after WWII. The many survivors are fighting for recognition from the Swiss government and the film is the story of their collective memoires.

The biggest dream for the orphan Max was to be part of a “real” family. His dream seems to come true as he is adopted by a Bernese farmer family, but the dream quickly turns into a nightmare. His foster parents treat him like a workhorse and their son seizes every opportunity to humiliate him. He finds consolation playing his accordion and the one thing preserving his will to survive is his friendship with the young girl Berteli, who was also taken on to work at the farm.

This is a film you will not forget!

Production year: 2011
Screening time: 108 minutes
Language: German with English subtitles

For more information, see the website of the Goethe Institut.

Screening times:

Wellington – Paramount, 25 Courtenay Place, Wellington
Saturday, 6 September, 8.30 p.m.
Thursday, 11 September, 6.15 p.m.

Auckland – Rialto Cinema, 167-169 Broadway, Newmarket
Saturday, 13 September, 8.45 p.m.
Thursday, 18 September, 6.15 p.m.

Dunedin – Rialto Cinema, 11 Moray Place, Dunedin
Friday, 26 September, 8.45.p.m.