The Little Switzerland

The Little Switzerland (Spanish: La pequeña Suiza) is a 2019 Spanish-Portuguese comedy film directed by Kepa Sojo and starring Maggie Civantos, Jon Plazaola, Ingrid García-Jonsson and Secun de la Rosa.[1] The plot draws inspiration from the Treviño enclave dispute,[2] and comedy films such as Passport to Pimlico (1949),[3] and Welcome Mr. Marshall! (1953).[4]

The Little Switzerland
Theatrical release poster
SpanishLa pequeña Suiza
Directed byKepa Sojo
Written by
  • Alberto López
  • Daniel Monedero
  • Jelen Morales
  • Sonia Pacios
  • Kepa Sojo
Produced by
  • Ricardo Marco Budé
  • José Luis Jiménez
  • Kiko Martínez
  • Ignacio Salazar-Simpson
  • Katixa Silva
  • Leonel Vieira
Starring
CinematographyKenneth Oribe
Production
companies
  • Nadie es perfecto
  • Kuttuna Filmak
  • Stopline Films
Distributed byeOne Films
Release date
  • 26 April 2019 (2019-04-26) (Spain)
Running time
86 minutes
Countries
  • Spain
  • Portugal
LanguageSpanish

Plot

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The plot concerns about a town in Castile and León with a majority of citizens leaning towards joining the Basque Country. Those attempts are frustrated by the opposition of the Junta of Castile and León and the passivity of the Basque Government. An archeology student then finds a crypt with the purported remains of William Tell's son Walter and the population ensuingly proceed to embrace a Swiss identity.[5]

Cast

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Production

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A Spanish-Portuguese co-production,[6] the film was produced by Nadie es perfecto alongside Kuttuna Filmak and Stopline Films, with the participation of RTVE.[7] Shooting locations in Álava included Artziniega, Ayala/Aiara, Laudio/Llodio, and Vitoria-Gasteiz.[7]

Release

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Distributed by eOne Films,[7] the film was released theatrically in Spain on 26 April 2019.

Reception

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According to Jordi Battle Caminal, reviewing for Fotogramas, the best of the film are the supporting characters.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "RTVE.es estrena el trálier de 'La pequeña Suiza'". Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española (in Spanish). 12 March 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. ^ "La pequeña Suiza, una desternillante comedia inspirada en el condado de Treviño". EITB Euskal Irrati Telebista (in Spanish). 2021-12-28. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  3. ^ Martínez, Beatriz (25 April 2019). "'La pequeña Suiza': comedia sobre la identidad, sin entidad". El Periódico (in Spanish). Grupo Zeta. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  4. ^ Jiménez, Jesús (26 April 2019). "'La pequeña Suiza', Berlanga inspira una comedia sobre los nacionalismos". RTVE.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  5. ^ Berrueta, Julen (24 April 2018). "El pueblo de Castilla y León que quería ser parte de Euskadi y terminó siendo Suiza". El Español.
  6. ^ "La pequeña Suiza". San Sebastián International Film Festival. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Gómez, Zuriñe (25 April 2019). "La película alavesa "La Pequeña Suiza" se estrena en cines". GasteizHoy.
  8. ^ Batlle Caminal, Jordi (25 April 2019). "Crítica de 'La pequeña Suiza'". Fotogramas (in Spanish). Hearst Magazines International. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
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