Welcome to Switzerland (2004)
"Bienvenue en Suisse" (original title)

Director:

Léa Fazer

Writer:

Léa Fazer

Stars:

Vincent Perez, Emmanuelle Devos, Denis Podalydès

Cast

Credited cast:
Vincent Perez	...	Aloïs Couchepin
Emmanuelle Devos	...	Sophie
Denis Podalydès	...	Thierry
Walo Lüönd	...	Adolf Sempach
Peter Wyssbrod	...	Kurt Sempach
Marianne Basler	...	Béatrice
Scali Delpeyrat	...	Vincent
Mariama Sylla	...	Amélia
Julien George	...	Damien
Carola Regnier	...	Heidi
Heidi Züger	...	Silvia
Jacques Michel	...	Rémi
Suzanne Thommen	...	Lisa
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yves Herren	...	Bank Employee
Julio Pastoriza	...	Réceptionniste

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

Pathé Distribution [fr]

Country:

France Switzerland

Language:

French

Release Date:

30 June 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

Welcome in Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arena Films, Arcade, Vega Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

bright and sassy look at what it means to be Swiss

What is the essential quality that binds the tiny nation of 4 languages? Why are they that way, thinking that they speak French, German and Italian better than the respective nations from which the language names derive? Bienvenue en Suisse strives in between jabs to answer just that question.

I think it helps to have at least been to Switzerland to understand this film. Not that understanding can't come, but certainly appreciation is easier when one realizes that 4 20's and 14 is really how the French say the number that the Swiss have invented a word for in order to make it 94. The movie does a fair job of skewering the French in the process, of course, but the French girl does seem a bit more in touch with reality.

Never the less a good time is had by all and the movie stereo types and jabs fun, but never seems really nasty or mean spirited and that makes all the difference.

A good movie, well made and enjoyable, but no more than a 6.