Movies

At the beginning of spring in 1970, the inhabitants of a small village in the canton of Valais were experiencing unusual excitement. Was it because of the vote on women’s suffrage? Or the upcoming referendum on expelling foreigners? No, it was even worse: the village brass band had fallen apart! Half the village blamed Aloys, while the other half blamed Pierre. The conflict became political, musical and romantic... 🎺

Rich with humour and steeped in the nostalgic aesthetics of the 1970s, the film cleverly uses the brass band as a symbol of national identity and social cohesion that is cracking under the pressure of modernisation. Important themes such as feminism, xenophobia and the generational divide are touched upon, yet they are approached in a warm, feel-good way. At the same time, it paints a sensitive picture of a small community.