Les amateurs

Schmid's contribution is made up of occasionally very old amateur films, often-touristy family films about winter-sport holidays (not called such at that time) for affluent patricians. Les amateurs provides an authentic glimpse of life in the belle époque (the time which preceded the crisis years dealt with in Thomas Koerfer's contribution).The amateur films are unaffected and visibly made with wonder and enjoyment. People pose with pleasure; they know they are being filmed and so for instance they turn an extra daring pirouette on the ice. Film is still new and the potential of this wonderful medium of the new age is discovered withamazement and enthusiasm. Schmid shows a captivating world which still believes in miracles and innocence.