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29 Jan – 8 Feb 2026

Les amateurs

Daniel Schmid | Switzerland | 1991 | 30' | IFFR 1992

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.

Also in this combined programme

  • Die verborgene Fiktion

    Die verborgene Fiktion comprises a special selection from documentary films from the last three decades. In this film, Murer expounds on the hypoth

  • Les émotions hèlvétiques

    A plain and pugnacious choice for sentimentality, kitsch and melodrama (in which the hand of scenario writer Eric de Kuyper is recognisable), which

  • L’homme révolté

    A striking contribution because the historical period which Michel Soutter covers coincides with his own lifetime. Soutter was, alongside Alain Tan

View the entire programme

Film details

Country of production
Switzerland
Year
1991
Festival edition
IFFR 1992
Length
30"
Medium/Format
35mm

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