30/5 — 5/6/2024
64th International Film Festival
for Children and Youth

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Section: Welcome to Switzerland

The Black Brothers (2013) 12

Germany, Switzerland | 2013 | 98 min.

Up until the middle of the 19th century, poverty stricken mountain farmers from the Ticino area of Switzerland frequently sold their children to Milan as chimney sweeps. That is also young Giorgio’s fate. He is forced to climb through pitch black chimneys, flinging down soot with his bare hands. But he doesn’t lose heart. Together with his fellow sweeps, he establishes the association of Black Brothers. They stick together, struggling against their penury and get involved in fights with the street gangs of Milan. The film tells of the gripping adventures of the chimney sweep boys and their spectacular escape back to their native land.

CountryGermany, Switzerland
Year2013
Duration98 min
Rating12
LanguageGerman
SubtitleEnglish, simul. translation cz
Directed by Xavier Koller
Screenplay Klaus Richter
Director of Photography Felix von Muralt
Music Balz Bachmann
Edited by Gion-Reto Killias
Contact Beta Cinema GmbH

Biography

A film director and screenwriter, he graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zurich, worked in theater, and started in TV and film as an actor. He made his debut as a film director with the feature film Hannibal (1972). His films Journey of Hope (Reise der Hoffnung, 1990), Gripsholm (2000) and Little Mountain Boy (Schellen-Ursli, 2015) have been awarded.

Action + Adventure, Poverty, Growing Up, Friendship, History, Teamwork