LE BONHEUR D'ETRE SUISSE When one begins to understand that social injustice, racism and hatred exist, one turns to Jean Zieglers books. In this film he traces a double portrait: his own, and the worlds. Jean Ziegler is a sociology professor and a radical Swiss politician. An old-school Communist and a media star. The author of controversial books on Swiss history, politics, and economics, on topics such as the role of Swiss banking in upholding both the Nazi regime in World War Two and South Africas racist system of Apartheid. Zieglers recently-published autobiography carries the ironic title The Joy of Being Swiss, which Ana Ruiz also used for her filmic portrait of him. Anna Ruiz: «This film is about Jean Zieglers ideas, not his personality. Through his life we witness the failure of an entire generation, which believed in a socially just world but was unable to create one. A new global Apartheid is developing. Money has become the major driving force, at the expense of human beings. The point is not to act politically, but to talk about politics. I hope that Jean Zieglers simple, non-technical, fiery words make us think about and see the world from a desperately human point of view.» «It must be said: whether one agrees with the form of Jean Zieglers analyses and speeches or not, his voice is essential, indispensible. Courage, Jean! And thank you for still believing in and fighting for human dignity.» Tribune de Genève «The films centre is its protagonist Jean Ziegler. (...) With statistics, anecdotes, quotations and his inimitable rhetorical skill, he outlines his fight for a more just world. On the Paradeplatz in Zurich, at home in Thun, and in South Africa, Ana Ruiz allows Jean Ziegler to talk about his life and his hopes, and draws the portrait of an untiring fighter who will never give up.» Berner Tagwacht		Documentary, 1996 74 min., 35mm Original version: French, german subtitles Screenplay: Greta van Bempt, Ana Ruiz Director: Ana Ruiz Photography: Jean-Claude Vicquery, Paul Gruszow Editor: Espérance Ruiz Festivals: Locarno, Namur, Sao Paolo, Brussel, Solothurn, Vues dAfrique (Montréal) Production: Morgane Films, Bruxelles, and Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion World rights: Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion Distribution (CH): Bernard Lang AG