Mais im Bundeshuus
Jean-Stéphane Bron
Switzerland | 2003 | 86 min
Languages : German, French, Swiss German
Subtitles : French, English
In room 87 of the Federal Palace, a parliamentary committee is discussing a future law authorising the use of GMOs in our food. Jean-Stéphane Bron sets up camp with his camera at the door of the political kitchen, following it as it dishes up various tactics, power plays and twists. This irresistible political thriller was the film that introduced the director to a wide audience.
Minimum legal age 7 years, recommended 14 years and over
Behind locked doors in room 87 of the Federal Palace of Switzerland, Bern, a parliamentary commission discusses a draft bill to govern the use of GMOs. Jean-Stéphane Bron stands watch outside the locked doors in order to collect impressions in the heat of the moment from representatives of the people that he carefully cast before his work began: Maya Graf, a young ecological representative and a convert to organic farming; Joseph Kunz, also from the countryside, representing the SVP; the Radical Party, which is very close to the economic sector, is represented by Mr. Randegger, an old liberal lion who made his career at Novartis; the indecisiveness of the political centre by socialist Liliane Chappuis and Christian-Democrat professor Neyrinck. An irresistible political thriller, Le Génie helvétique (which revealed the filmmaker to a large audience) shows plainly - though not without some fictional tricks - how political morals are negotiable, how green and brown can sometimes match on the costume of political convictions, and how private business manoeuvres influence public decisions. And that sowing the seeds of democracy is what should take top priority.
Emmanuel Chicon
