My Swiss Army
Saâd, Thuruban, Andrija, and Luka are officers in the Swiss army. Their parents were born in Serbia, Sri Lanka or Tunisia. For economic or political reasons, they left their homeland. Now Swiss, these families have retained a strong attachment to their cultures of origin.
Cast
- Luka
- Luka Popadić
- Saâd
- Thuruban
- Andrija
My Swiss Army
Luka Popadić
- Documentary
- Production Country / Year
- Switzerland, Serbia 2024
- Language
- gsw., fr., sr. OF mit fr., de. UT
- Format
- DCP, Color, 78min
1.85:1, Discrete 5.1
- Original Title
- Echte Schweizer
Director & Crew
Luka Popadić
Born in 1980 in Baden/Switzerland. Studied History and Political Science in Zurich and Film Directing at the Faculty for Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. Active as a director.
Filmography
2010 EDMUND IN KNEZEVAC, Kurzdokumentarfilm
2013 ROTER SCHNEE, Kurzfilm
2014 MAMCI I UDICE, Kurzfilm
2015 RINGIŠPIL, Kurzfilm
2021 REAL NEWS, Kurzfilm
2024 ECHTE SCHWEIZER, Dokumentation HOF 2024
“Originally from Serbia, I was naturalized at the age of 14. According to some, we, the children of immigrants, the ‘secondos’, are not considered ‘real Swiss’. Our skin color is different, our religion perhaps, certainly our foreign-sounding names ... These attributes have a real impact on life, whether it be in finding housing, employment, participating in community activities, sports, academic careers, police checks, politics, or even on Tinder.
The army is one of the possible arenas of integration, not only for second-generation Swiss, but also across different social backgrounds. By wearing the same uniform, Swiss bakers interact with students of Serbian origin, and the peasant’s son from Emmental meets the son of a Mexican freedom fighter. All are supposedly treated the same way and follow the same orders. But that’s only half the truth. […] In My Swiss Army, I follow the protagonists in their private lives and in the army.”
Luka Popadić
- Producer
- Aline Schmid