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Treasures from the Archives

Lichtspiel - Kinemathek Bern: Restoration of “Im Silberlicht der Blüemlisalp“

In the summer of 1935 Friedrich Alwin Hutzli, a priest from Reichenbach, produced a 'cultural and commercial film from the Kiental Valley' on behalf of the Reichenbach-Kiental Valley tourist office (Bernese Oberland, Switzerland). In this film called 'Im Silberlicht der Blüemlisalp' ('In the radiant light of the mountain 'Blüemlisalp''), 'he shows the beauty of the valley, its flora and fauna, and he immerses us in the world of the inhabitants and their activities. Like no other he understood how to find the most intimate corners of the Kiental Valley and how to make a film interesting and diversified...' (Sales letter of the tourist office). This 70-minute silent film is a unique contemporary document of life in the Bernese Oberland, presenting in great abundance vivid details of the people, mores, local customs, activities and artisanry that have long-since disappeared.

In addition to his pastoral activities, for years Hutzli recorded the everyday life of his 'charges' in coloured photographs - in a time in which many mountain residents wanted to leave their home for the city due to the hardships and privations of their living conditions. With this photographic mission he paid great respect to the local population, sensitized the 'flatlanders' with his numerous lectures centred on his photographic depictions of the hardships of the mountain population, and also frequently brought back natural goods to the Kiental Valley.

In his only film, he turned his profound familiarity with the region and the people into expressive images. The only existent positive copy of this 16mm film can be found in the Lichtspiel - Kinemathek Bern and was able to be restored and copied in 2008 thanks to a cantonal contribution. A new inter-negative and a 16mm copy were printed and the Bernese composer and pianist Christian Henking provided the musical accompaniment. 75 years after its creation, the film will be exhibited in Berne and in the Bernese Oberland with live piano accompaniment, with a DVD edition planned as well.

www.lichtspiel.ch
'Im Silberlicht der Blüemlisalp' at filmarchives online.eu

Lichtspiel – Kinemathek Bern