Swiss History

Six outstanding personalities of Swiss history presented in a small documentary series.

Zurich in 1519: The young widow Anna Reinhart lives a barren life between fear of the church and worries about the future of her three children, when the arrival of a man in the city causes turmoil: The young priest Ulrich Zwingli takes up his new position at the Grossmünster in Zurich and sparks fierce discussions with his sermons against the grievances of the Catholic Church. Zwingli's revolutionary thoughts frighten Anna. But when she sees how Zwingli lives charity and not just preaches, she increasingly becomes fascinated by him. But Zwingli's success quickly becomes dangerous. His ideas almost trigger a civil war, and at the same time a struggle for power and interpretive sovereignty breaks out in the inner circle of the movement. When the Catholic forces begin to form internationally, the relationship between Zwingli and Anna is put to a hard test.

Adaptation of the Schiller play, about a Swiss rebel against the tyranny of Austria in the early 14th century.

A 1960 Swiss adventure film directed by Michel Dickoff and Karl Hartl and starring Robert Freitag, Wolfgang Rottsieper and Alfred Schlageter. It is based on the traditional folk story of William Tell. The film was entered into the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival.

This is a movie about the last "witch" that got burned in switzerland. It's based on a true story and is a movie adaptation of the well known book by Eveline Hasler.

1938. Austria has been annexed by Nazi Germany, and Switzerland has closed its borders for Jewish refugees - a death sentence for thousands. But not all Swiss officials observe this inhuman order.

Giorgio's poor parents sell their son to Milan to work as a chimney sweeper. There he joins the «Black Brothers».

It is August 1, 1914. There is excitement in Master Wiederkehr's hairdressing salon. The local council, the notary, the butcher and other customers discuss the shocking news that Wiederkehr's daughter Rosa has just brought to the house: there is a war. Germany, Belgium and Russia have declared mobilization. The French troops are at the border. The young hairdresser Wipf then experiences his first crucial life experiences during the horrors of war.

A man returning to his parents years after having been sent away as a child-laborer tells his lifetime story to his dying father.

A Swiss-German rural peasant family takes Max, a crude 15-year-old boy, into a foster situation of constant bullying. Soon, a foster girl is added to the mix.

The early Middle Ages; the 10th century. The monk Ekkehard lives secluded in the monastery of St. Gallen. Everything changes for him when the Duchess widow Hadwiga appears to him and the intelligent monk asks for a favor. She can convince the abbot to make Ekkehard work as a Latin teacher in her castle. Thus the young monk begins a new life and suddenly the young man, who always lived in seclusion, is confronted with the medieval outside world: war, hatred, poverty and disease that affect everyday life. Painful for him is that the Christian doctrine of salvation comes into conflict with the pagan elementary forces. The great challenge that awaits the young monk, however, is when he falls in love with the beautiful Countess Hadwiga herself .

A dramatic tale about the most popular European legend of Wilhelm Tell, who's independent spirit and fight for freedom still inspires many.

An idealistic young doctor takes a job at a woman's clinic. He loses his confidence and questions whether the medical field is right when he is faced with acute abortion and genital diseases.

Since 1886, there has been a weather-station master at the summit of the mountain. He telegraphs his daily measurements into the valley from where they are transmitted to Rome, Paris, Berlin and Vienna.

The trials of the wealthy Emmentaler family Jowäger, adapted from the 19th century novel of the same name by Jeremias Gotthelf (pen-name of Albert Bitzius).

The trials of the wealthy Emmentaler farming family Jowäger, adapted from the 19th century novel of the same name by Jeremias Gotthelf (pen-name of Albert Bitzius), which was also published in two parts.

The further trials of the wealthy Emmentaler farming family Jowäger and their neighbors, adapted from the second volume of the 19th century novel by Jeremias Gotthelf (pen-name of Albert Bitzius).

The story of the legendary hero and archer from Switzerland, who lead his country to freedom from tyranny.

On May 10, 1940, at 03:00 a.m., the Western Front begins to move. The German Wehrmacht invades Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg to roll up the Maginot Line. On his round of checks, the Swiss railroad guard Tschumi meets the dripping wet German refugee Werner Kramer who has swum across the Rhine. Kramer hopes that the "Heftis", old and wealthy friends of Zurich, will help him. But the news of the German invasion has a shock effect on the Swiss, changing their situation and mood. A truck driver takes Kramer with him for a while and even gives him lunch, but then suddenly leaves him sitting there. In Zurich, the refugee learns that the Heftis have set off for Central Switzerland. At the station, chance brings him together with the tailor Anna Marti, whom he has known since childhood. Anna gives him shelter in the studio and takes him home in the evening. But that doesn't suit her partner, the widowed brother-in-law Albert Widmer, at all. He even thinks about denouncing Kramer. But Kramer realizes for himself that he won't make any progress. He turns himself into the police. After a long night at the police station, he is left with the anxious question of what his prospects are for an asylum application.

A Jewish family in Berlin family must flee the Nazis. First, they go to Zürich. From there they go to Paris, and finally to London.