13. September 2024
© Ben Ross PhotographyBy Kevin Macdonald
Does the World need one more documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono? Not really. This one, however, it does: It is the year 1972 and we are exploring John and Yoko’s musical, personal and political world – against the backdrop of a turbulent era in American history. The film is built around the benefit concert ‘One to One’, John Lennon’s last full-length concert before his death. Previously unreleased archival material, recordings of telephone calls, private videos of John and Yoko and restored recordings of their ‘One to One’ concert make for a moving experience.
© Terence Spencer PopperfotoBy Johan Grimonprez
The documentary explores the decolonisation of the Congo in the 1960s, a key battleground of the Cold War between the USA and the USSR, and the role that Black jazz music played during this period. The CIA sent musicians like Louis Armstrong as ambassadors of love to the African country to soothe the divided population. This initiative sparked heated debates at the UN, which are also a focus of the film. A film about the connection between music, politics and history, with meticulously researched archival footage.
© Films du Poisson Wrong MenBy Alexis Langlois
A casting show in the early 2000s: While Billie goes home disappointed after a devastating jury verdict, this day marks a big career start for Mimi. And above all, of a love story, as there was an instant spark between the two contestants. But because Mimi is expected to hide her homosexuality in favor of her career, the young love crumbles as quickly as it ignited. Told from the perspective of the year 2055, the queer musical looks back on the pop-culturally legendary and turbulent period around 2005 - with everything that goes with it: shrill drama, fan cult, Britney Spears references and a catchy soundtrack.
By Carlos Marqués-Marcet
When 70-year-old Claire, usually full of life, gets diagnosed with a terminal illness, she decides to end her life in a clinic in Switzerland. Flavio, her husband of 40 years, cannot imagine a life without Claire. Their daughter tries to mediate between the two while processing her own feelings about the situation. Together, the three embark on a fascinating journey that leads to love and self-discovery. A humanistic drama in which the music beautifully underscores the characters’ emotional states.
© Contrast Film / Lichtblick FilmBy Martin Witz
In this documentary, director Martin Witz tells the story of the friendship and collaboration between Michael Jary and the homosexual songwriter Bruno Balz. In the roaring twenties and then during the Nazi era, the two produced many hits for escapist musicals, especially for superstar Zarah Leander. Using subversive overtones, they try to destabilise Goebbels’ propaganda. Contemporary witnesses, who are eager to tell stories, take us on a brilliant journey through five decades of German film and music history that makes you want to (re)discover forgotten classics and shows how strongly music has shaped popular culture.
By Claude Lelouch
A star lawyer (Kad Merad) is in a relationship with a successful actress (Elza Zylberstein) and leads a privileged life. However, when he learns that he has a neurological disorder that makes it impossible for him to lie, his life is turned upside down. He embarks on a road trip to the provinces, where conversations with old friends lead him to reflect on the story of his life. A wonderful comédie musicale by Claude Lelouch with an original soundtrack by Ibrahim Maalouf and an inspiring love letter to life!
By Kurt Früh
Wendolyn Pfannenstil works at the reception desk in the Zurich city hall. Due to his good performance, he is promoted to registrar, his dream job. When a bride gets rejected by her groom, Wendolin falls in love with her and sabotages the couple’s second attempt at getting married. This comedy by Kurt Früh is one of the very few musicals in Swiss film history – and it is a wonderful film from and set in Zurich. The all-star cast of Walter Roderer, Heinrich Gretler, Jörg Schneider and Margrit Rainer expresses their feelings in song. This gem will be shown in a newly remastered version.