Der Unschuldige

  • 114'
  • Switzerland
  • 2018

Ruth works in a laboratory where animals are used for radical medical experiments. While she gets to play God at work, she subjects herself to the religious demands of a radical sect at home: evangelical Christians who believe in the existence of demons. Her life starts to derail when Andreas, her ex-boyfriend who was convicted of murder, suddenly reappears. Is it really him, or a ghost? What's happening to her teenage daughter, and what will happen to the monkey undergoing a full body transplant?

Der Unschuldige is a fascinating, unpredictable report on Ruth’s search for answers. The marvelous locations – industrial premises with disorientatingly long corridors, a dark swingers’ club-cum-swimming pool, bland modern architecture set in picturesque Swiss landscapes – contribute to the feeling of alienation. This second feature by Swiss Simon Jaquemet bears the clear influence of cinema from neighbouring Austria (Haneke, Seidl), but adds a dash of Kubrick and a generous helping of idiosyncratic talent.

Director
Simon Jaquemet
Countries of production
Switzerland, Germany
Year
2018
Festival Edition
IFFR 2019
Length
114'
Medium
DCP
International title
The Innocent
Language
German
Producer
Tolga Dilsiz
Production Company
8horses
Sales
Kinology
Screenplay
Simon Jaquemet
Cinematography
Gabriel Sandru
Editor
Christof Schertenleib
Production Design
Michael Baumgartner
Sound Design
Roland Widmer
Cast
Judith Hoffmann, Thomas Schüpbach, Christian Kaiser, Naomi Scheiber, Laura Winter, Urs-Peter Wolters, Anna Tenta
Director
Simon Jaquemet
Countries of production
Switzerland, Germany
Year
2018
Festival Edition
IFFR 2019
Length
114'
Medium
DCP
International title
The Innocent
Language
German
Producer
Tolga Dilsiz
Production Company
8horses
Sales
Kinology
Screenplay
Simon Jaquemet
Cinematography
Gabriel Sandru
Editor
Christof Schertenleib
Production Design
Michael Baumgartner
Sound Design
Roland Widmer
Cast
Judith Hoffmann, Thomas Schüpbach, Christian Kaiser, Naomi Scheiber, Laura Winter, Urs-Peter Wolters, Anna Tenta