Roger, a banker who smuggles black money, leads a life in the fast lane until, after a border check, he flees from the authorities by jumping into Lake Constance. With his charming boyish smile, he convinces every customs officer. But then disaster strikes: Roger is waved over by customs officers, loses his nerve, hits a customs officer as he tries to drive off, and only just manages to save himself by diving into Lake Constance. However, this leap not only catapults him out of his banking career, but also into a whole new and truly surprising world. This world is populated by shy mermaids in Lara Croft outfits and cunning magpie witches in helicopters. As in a Grimm fairy tale, Roger now has to prove himself three times over. The film, a surreal genre mix of road movie, fairy tale, comedy, and queer love story, premiered in 2007 at the Berlinale Forum. Director Thomas Imbach combines Swiss landscapes with digital aesthetics and a freely invented mythology. I WAS A SWISS BANKER won the Zurich Film Award, among other honors, and was shown at the Gijón International Film Festival. The original mix of folk tale, social satire, and romantic adventure made the film a festival favorite with cult potential.
A banker smuggling black money catapults himself out of his old life with a dip into the cold lake water.
Roger, a banker who smuggles black money, leads a life in the fast lane until, after a border check, he flees from the authorities by jumping into Lake Constance. With his charming boyish smile, he convinces every customs officer. But then disaster strikes: Roger is waved over by customs officers, loses his nerve, hits a customs officer as he tries to drive off, and only just manages to save himself by diving into Lake Constance.
However, this leap not only catapults him out of his banking career, but also into a whole new and truly surprising world. This world is populated by shy mermaids in Lara Croft outfits and cunning magpie witches in helicopters. As in a Grimm fairy tale, Roger now has to prove himself three times over.
The film, a surreal genre mix of road movie, fairy tale, comedy, and queer love story, premiered in 2007 at the Berlinale Forum. Director Thomas Imbach combines Swiss landscapes with digital aesthetics and a freely invented mythology. I WAS A SWISS BANKER won the Zurich Film Award, among other honors, and was shown at the Gijón International Film Festival. The original mix of folk tale, social satire, and romantic adventure made the film a festival favorite with cult potential.