They Teach Us How to Be Happy ()


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It starts with insults, discrimination at work, harassment by the police. When stalkers sent by the government go from threats to assault, one must seek safety in a faraway country. The film documents the experiences of several Sudanese... See more »

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Directed by

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Peter von Gunten

Written by

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Heidi Rieder ... (collaboration)
 
Peter von Gunten ... ()

Produced by

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Anne Marie Etter ... associate producer (as Annemarie Etter)
Paul Riniker ... co-producer: DRS
Peter von Gunten ... producer

Music by

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Abu Simbel Ensemble
Simsimiyya Ensemble

Cinematography by

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Peter von Gunten

Editing by

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Peter von Gunten

Editorial Department

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Daniel Hegner ... on-line editing
Charly Huser ... color timer

Production Management

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Agathe Blaser ... production manager (as Agat Blaser)
Heidi Rieder ... unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Heidi Rieder ... assistant director

Sound Department

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Remo Belli ... sound recordist
Rolf Büttikofer ... sound mixer / sound
Andreas Litmanowitsch ... sound
Peter von Gunten ... sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department

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Attila Boa ... assistant camera
Martin Mühlethaler ... operator: 2nd camera
Rolf Mühlethaler ... assistant camera: 2nd camera
Andreas Schneuwly ... assistant camera
Esra Thormann ... assistant camera

Script and Continuity Department

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Heidi Rieder ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

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Farhad Afshar ... consultant
Anne Marie Etter ... consultant (as Annemarie Etter)
Stefan Fraefel ... consultant
Rosamaria Gilli ... consultant
Peter Huber ... consultant
Monica Iseli ... translator
Walter Kälin ... consultant
Theres Scherer ... production assistant
Thomas Straubhaar ... consultant
Andreas Tunger ... translator
Vera von Gunten ... trainee
Hans-Ruedi Wicker ... consultant

Production Companies

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Distributors

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  • Filmcoopi (1996) (Switzerland) (theatrical)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

It starts with insults, discrimination at work, harassment by the police. When stalkers sent by the government go from threats to assault, one must seek safety in a faraway country. The film documents the experiences of several Sudanese refugees arriving in Switzerland during the 1990s: fastidious transfers from one shelter to another; repetitive hearings with the commissions in charge of asylum seekers; account settlements with the social services that are as incomprehensible as they are meticulous; and the laborious integration in a different society, even when all parties go about it with a lot of goodwill. The refugees are just asking for safety; but the Swiss authorities demand a weighty counterpart to that plea. Written by Eduardo Casais

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Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Lernen glücklich zu sein (Switzerland, German title)
  • Apprendre à être heureux (Switzerland, French title)
  • Eles Nos Ensinam Como Ser Feliz (Brazil)
Runtime
  • 135 min
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