22/09/2005

Released on the 15th September in German-speaking Switzerland (70 % of the 7,4 million of the country’s inhabitants), Mein Name ist Eugen [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (My Name is Eugene) by Michael Steiner, which has already reached 100 000 admissions, attracted 67 000 spectators in just four days of distribution. Though it hasn’t quite equalled the exploits of A vos marques, prêt, Charlie! in 2003 (560 000 admissions), this score puts it at the top of the national box-office, knocking another Swiss film off the throne, Snow White [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carlos Leal
interview: Samir
film profile] by Samir (37 000 tickets in two weeks). This Swiss success arrives at a critical point, since the poor results of the first semester of 2005 (1,9 % market share) were causing some consternation.

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At 36 years, Michael Steiner has made a stunning entry into the Swiss theatres, with My Name is Eugene (Kontraproduktion AG, Zurich). Especially since the few films made before by this passionate filmmaker did not exactly have the typewriters clattering! With My Name is Eugene , but also with the co-directing of Grounding – Die letzten Tage der Swissair [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Grounding – Les derniers jours de Swissair), a fiction on the demise of the Swiss aviation company announced for January, his name has reached the papers. br>
In attacking emblematic Swiss heritage such as Swissair, and Alemanic heritage with "My Name is Eugene", best-seller during the 1950s among adolescents, as famous as "Heidi" in Alemanic Switzerland, he can’t help but attract attention. The adaptation of the adventure book by Berne pastor Klaus Schaedelin was such a challenge that no one dared take it on, so much so that the public waited for the interpretation by Michael Steiner with bated breath. The public, and the press, unanimously saluted his prowess, a success that could only get better!

(Translated from French)