8/10
Beresina : A 'Daniel Schmid' film which makes fun of the Swiss nation.
12 November 2014
Apart from being famous for its innumerable banks, chocolates and watches, Switzerland is equally famous for its peace loving people. It is precisely this quality which impels many people young and old alike to seek Swiss nationality in order to lead a better life than what they have been leading. This is something which viewers can watch in 'Beresina', a film where Swiss director Daniel Schmid chooses to reveal the weaknesses of influential Swiss people when they are duped by a meek person exploited by them. It is fun to watch how the family members of victims endorse the presence of the exploited person in their midst. Daniel Schmid's film depicts some powerful Swiss people namely an army general, some industrialists, a media specialist etc who misuse their power as well as position to indulge in personal pleasures. This film also features a discussion about how far can an ordinary person go in order to dream something big in life? There is also a sub plot about basic human values as a young Russian prostitute's innocence is shattered when a letter informs her of not having obtained the Swiss nationality. The entire story runs slowly until viewers finish watching three-fourths of the film. It is only in the last parts that some crucial events happen which herald the destruction of Switzerland. Despite being a story about an expensive call girl, Berezina is not at all exploitative. It has been hailed as a comedy film but watching it, one would not laugh in the same manner as how other people do when they watch Chaplin, Buster Keaton or Harold Lloyd.
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