Berezina ou les derniers jours de la Suisse (1999)

Beresina, or the Last Days of Switzerland (German: Beresina oder Die letzten Tage der Schweiz) is a 1999 satiric comedy film by Swiss director Daniel Schmid. It chronicles the story of Irina, a Russian call girl arriving in Switzerland, whose innocent attempt to live the high life there triggers unintended coup d'état in the country. The title Beresina refers to the Beresinalied, a patriotic song used as the code for initiating the Putsch.

The film is a black comedy where all aspects of Swiss life are satirized in anecdotes. The heroine deals with a retired P-26 officer who appears as her false "sponsor" and various sexual perverts at the top of Swiss social hierarchy. Their attitudes to immigrants are also depicted ironically. Even the national identity and modern history of Switzerland are caricaturized in the country's first ever coup d'état sequences. The film culminates with Irina's coronation as Queen of Switzerland.

Beresina was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.

Synopsis

Irina, une belle Russe émigrée en Suisse, entrée au service de la styliste et entremetteuse Charlotte De, fascine les membres influents des cercles économiques, financiers et politiques du pays. Par le chantage, l'avocat Waldvogel et sa patronne forcent Irina à espionner ses clients. Ce qu'elle découvre va gâcher son beau conte de fée.

Acteurs