On the Sunny Side of the Alps
East of the West - Out of Competition 2008 / Na sončni strani Alp / Slovenia 2007
Two typical Slovenian families live in idyllic harmony, until one of them buys a new car… This purchase makes the neighbour and his family uneasy, but they overcome their envy and instead feast their eyes on their country’s beautiful landscape. An original response to events in Slovenian society, founded on a simple idea.
Synopsis
Two typical Slovenian families live in idyllic harmony, until one of them buys a new car… This purchase makes the neighbour and his family uneasy, but they overcome their envy and instead feast their eyes on the beautiful landscape. This bitterly ironic anecdote, founded on a simple yet effective idea, provides an original response to events in contemporary Slovenian society. “On the sunny side of the Alps – that’s how travel agents promote my country, a beautiful place full of hospitable and friendly people. But recent racist and xenophobic incidents show Slovenia in a darker light, and my film is a reaction to this.” Janez Burger
About the film
15 min / Color, 35 mm
Director Janez Burger
/ Screenplay Janez Burger
/ Dir. of Photography Simon Tanšek
/ Music Drago Ivanuša
/ Editor Miloš Kalusek
/ Producer Jožko Rutar
/ Production Staragara Production
/ Cast Ibrahim Nouhoum, Kany Michel Obenga, Samuel Camara, Dado Kebe Nouhoum, Aisha Ibrahim Maiga
/ Contact Staragara Production
www: www.nasoncnistranialp.com
About the director
Janez Burger (b. 1965, Kranj, Slovenia) initially studied economics in Ljubljana and then film direction at Prague’s FAMU (1996). After graduating, he settled in Ljubljana, where he established the Burgerteater (1997) and the production company Staragara (2003). In 1999 he debuted with the feature film Idle Running (V leru), which was screened in competition at the Karlovy Vary IFF. His second film The Ruins (Ruševine, 2004) competed at the KV festival in the section East of the West.
Contacts
Staragara Production
Tržaska 2, SI-1000, Ljubljana
Slovenia
Phone: +386 1 437 6166
Fax: +386 1 421 0025
E-mail: info@staragara.com
Guests
Nerina Kocjancić
Film Institution Rep.
