Sister (2012)
"L'enfant d'en haut" (original title)

A drama set at a Swiss ski resort and centered on a boy who supports his sister by stealing from wealthy guests.

Director:

Ursula Meier

Writers:

Antoine Jaccoud (scenario), Ursula Meier (scenario),

Stars:

Léa Seydoux, Kacey Mottet Klein, Martin Compston

8 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Léa Seydoux	...	Louise
Kacey Mottet Klein	...	Simon
Martin Compston	...	Mike
Gillian Anderson	...	Kristin Jansen
Jean-François Stévenin	...	Le chef-cuisinier
Yann Trégouët	...	Bruno
Gabin Lefebvre	...	Marcus
Magne-Håvard Brekke	...	Le skieur violent
Simon Guélat	...	L'homme de la Golf
Mike Winter	...	Le skieur aux Dynastar
Yannick Ruiz	...	Saisonnier
Vincent Fontannaz	...	Saisonnier
Alain Börek	...	Saisonnier (as Alain Borek)
Frédéric Mudry	...	Saisonnier (as Fred Mudry)
Ange Ruzé	...	Saisonnier

Storyline

A drama set at a Swiss ski resort and centered on a boy who supports his sister by stealing from wealthy guests.

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Plot Keywords:

stealing | ski | mother son relationship | snow ski goggles | brand name | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [hu]

Country:

France Switzerland

Language:

French English

Release Date:

18 April 2012 (France)

Also Known As:

Sister

Filming Locations:

Saxon, Valais, Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vega Film, Archipel 35, Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The official submission of Switzerland to the Best Foreign Language Film of the 85th Academy Awards 2013.

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Connections

Featured in The 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards (2013)

User Reviews

"Atmospheric, somewhat sociological and affective..."

French-Swiss screenwriter, actress and director Ursula Meier's second feature film which she co-wrote with Swiss sociologist, author and screenwriter Antoine Jaccoud and French author and screenwriter Gilles Taurand, is inspired by an idea from the director. It premiered In competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in 2012, was shot on location in Switzerland and is a France-Switzerland co-production which was produced by producers Denys Freyd and Ruth Waldburger. It tells the story about a 12-year-old boy named Simon who lives in an apartment block in an industrial area nearby a ski resort in Switzerland with his older sister named Louise. As his sister spends most of her time with her various boyfriends, Simon innately thinks that it's his responsibility to support them so he frequently finds his way to the ski resort up in the mountains where he steals equipment and sells it to the tourists.

Distinctly and precisely directed by French-Swiss filmmaker Ursula Meier, this quietly paced fictional tale which is narrated mostly from the two main characters viewpoints, draws a humane and heart-wrenching portrayal of a somewhat uncommon relationship between two siblings. While notable for it's naturalistic and surreal milieu depictions, fine cinematography by cinematographer Agnès Godard, costume design by costume designer Anna Van Brée and excellent choice of location, this character-driven story about a boy who meets and Englishman and who breaks moral rules in desperation, for the sake of achieving affection from the person he cares the most for and to make that person happy depicts two interrelated and heartrending studies of character where two human beings who are marred by their backgrounds does what their hearts and minds tells them to do and contains an efficient score by composer John Parish.

This conversational, political, at times humorous, non-moralizing and tangible though imaginary psychological drama about interpersonal relations, communication and human conditions which is set in the Swiss Alps during a skiing season and where a child who keeps on going up to a place where people are living a lifestyle that is far away from his and keeps on coming back down to his reality where things are not quite as sunny has taken on the role as provider due to the situation he and the only person he has is in, is impelled and reinforced by it's cogent narrative structure, subtle continuity, good dialog, emotional substance and the prominent and commendable acting performances by child actor Kacey Mottet Klein and French actress Léa Seydoux. An atmospheric, somewhat sociological and affective love-story which gained, among numerous other awards, a Silver Bear Special Award at the 62nd Berlin Film Festival in 2012.