Besser und besser

Alfredo Knuchel, Norbert Wiedmer

Visions du Réel Nyon 1996 Prix du long-métrage

At the age of 61, Armin Bader still has the illusions of future happiness and prosperity he had back in the 1950s – even though for him, fate has decided otherwise. After numerous attempts at making a success of his life, Armin finds himself jobless. For two years, he is entitled to unemployment benefit, and when his right to the benefit runs out, the future looks bleak. He decides to convert the cellar of his house into a workshop for making blue prints. His wife, Marlies, and their 30 year-old son Markus give him help and support. But once again, success eludes Armin. The business is more a source of stress than of income. A small legacy spares the family from applying for social help, but only just, and the financial situation remains precarious. The frantic pursuit of success, the eternal dilemma between adaptation and escape, have left their mark. Armin is tired and has had enough. Marlies tries to find the security and human warmth which are missing in her life by joining a religious community. Markus, who began taking drugs eight years previously, makes his first serious attempt to give them up. His elder brother, Thomas, died of an overdose in 1987. We spent one-and-half-year filming the ups and downs of Armin and his family. Why them? Because they personify the deep insecurity within our society, which on the surface still looks quite smooth and intact. Their story is our story.

Alfredo Knuchel

* 1938 in Berne, journalist, 1987-91 director of the Swiss Film Center Foundation, since 1991 self taught documentary film makera and festival programme adviser

2004 HALLELUJA! DER HERR IST VERRÜCKT
1999 VAGLIETTI ZUM DRITTEN
1996 BESSER UND BESSER

Norbert Wiedmer

Born in 1953 in Bern. 1974-75 Worked as a teacher. 1975-80 Studied in Paris and Munich. Graduated from HFF (Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film) in Munich. 1980-82 scientific assistant for the documentary film department at the HFF. Since 1982 independent filmmaker, cameraman, cutter and lecturer.

2009 SOUNDS AND SILENCE
2005 BLAU
2004 BRUNO GANZ - SCHAUSPIELER: STATIONEN EINER KARRIERE
2004 HALLELUJA - DER HERR IST VERRÜCKT (Camera)
2002 BEHIND ME
2001 JUNTOS
1999 SCHLAGEN UND ABTUN
1996 BESSER UND BESSER
1994 AUFBRUCH
1994 EIN FROCH, DER KUSS, ZWEI KÖNIGE
1987 ALPENGLÜHN
1985 DAS MÄRCHEN VOM ZIGARERENKÖNIG
1983 FAUSTPFAND
1982 WUNDEN UND NARBEN
1981 DIE KONSUMKATHEDRALE
1980 WEIHNACHTSSAFARI
1979 FÜNF MINUTEN ENDE DER WELT

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