A documentary from and about rural Europe, capturing a timeless cultural event: a series of head-to-head cow fights set in the valley in sunny Southern Switzerland, nestled amongst the Alps. This black and white film tries to capture the balance between fascinating tradition and modernity.
Germany | 2011 | 70 minutes directed by Nicolas Steiner
Original Music by John Gürtler & Jan Miserre
Erika Stucky: vocals / Balthasar Streiff: alphorn, kuhhorn, zink, euphonium, kornett / Toebi Toebler: hackbrett / David Studer: mouth harp / Marcel Oetiker: schwyzerörgeli / Daniel Eichholz: drums, percussion, marimba, cowbells / Tomas Svensson; percussion / Isabelle Klemt: cello / Lars Dieterich: flute / Jan Miserre: zither, piano, melodica, percussion / John Gürtler: saxophone, harmonium, percussion
«The use of music and sound contribute immeasurably: meditative, almost tribal, music lulls us into a trance-like euphoria, while the temporal discrepancy between sound and image elevates them above the realms of the physical world, and, indeed, beyond our everyday, earthly perception of time and space.» (Mike McKenny, theculturevulture.co.uk 2012)
AWARDS & FESTIVALS
6th “Cinema Vérité” Iran International DFF
12th International DFF “Flahertina” Perm
17th Berlin & Beyond Film Festival San Francisco
18th Bradford International Film Festival
14° Buenos Aires Festival Intern. de Cine Independente
47th Solothurner Filmtage
35th Duisburger Filmwoche
33. Biberacher Filmfestspiele
19th Yasujiro Ozu International Short Film Festival
Bosco Chiesanuova, 17th Festival della Lessinia
64° Festival del film Locarno
17e Visions du Réel Festival international de cinéma Nyon