Les Faiseurs de Suisses

Hilarious with several laugh-out-loud moments, it's a biting satire on a topic that was unknown to me until recently. Simple, unpretentious, even unambitious, but extremely enjoyable, and a time capsule of the 70s.

Two officials must decide if some foreigners living in Switzerland can get the Swiss nationality. I envoyed very much this film because it is full of tenderness, humour and critical sense. It's also the most popular Swiss film ever made: it was seen and appreciated in all the parts of Switzerland. A part of this success is due to the performance of Emil Steinberger as Moritz Fischer, the new assistant.Emil Steinberger (commonly called Emil in Switzerland) is a very famous comic comedian, for years he was stage-actor presenting his funny sketchs in Switzerland and Germany.Besides Emil Steinberger has worked as clown for many years in the Circus Knie and speaks perfectly French, so that the people of the French speaking part of Switzerland knows him quite well.

As an American living in France and working in Switzerland during the early 1980s, I'd often stop at the border and chat with a friendly Swiss customs/immigration officer. One morning, he asked me if I'd seen 'Die Scweizermacher' and, with a smile, recommended it to me. Accepting this as an 'official' and informed recommendation, I soon saw the film. It was in German with the other 3 official languages as subtitles but, because the lead character is played by Emile, the famous circus clown, and the stories within the film are so stereotypical, understanding it is no problem. (The film was shown one year in New York City at the Swiss Cultural Center on lower Broadway but seems not to be known in the US.) Besides the traditional European nationalities being screened for Swiss citizenship, the film fades on an American who bops into the office making the same request. For those who appreciate the Swiss — and who marvel at current US immigration procedures — this film is a gem!

This Film is very funny, it presents all the good and bad things of Switzerland: banks, watches, kindness, be neutral, be a bit closed minded and with a great attaccement to the traditions. The Story is very simple, we follow 2 people that must decide if some stranger can get the Swiss nationality. Full of amusing situation, with a strange love story, and full of "clichées" about swiss, italian, german,... people that can always bring a smile on the audience. It's the most popular Swiss film ever made, with about 1 Million visitors, it's a little number for the world movies, but very big for our country. Very amusing for all who knows a bit of the european culture or Switzerland

The idea of an object and its creator is important to ascertain their relationship. It is important as a lot is spoken about the creator who is solely responsible for giving life to his creation. It is with this idea in mind that Swiss director Rolf Lyssy decided to shoot an intelligent film about people who are involved in "making Swiss people". One might wonder how people can be made ? The Swissmakers presents a very macho yet safe view about people who recommend names of persons who would be granted Swiss citizenship to become Swiss citizens. As Switzerland is a prosperous nation, certain guidelines have been prepared by Swiss government in order to discipline foreigners/immigrants. One can be sure that if watched with alert eyes, viewers can learn how bureaucracy can meddle with ordinary people's lives. If things are bad for some people then it can make a real mess of their cherished dreams of becoming Swiss citizens. The Swissmakers is more than 38 years old but it continues to exercise tremendous influence on all those who would like to call Switzerland their new home.