Roman Signer

The film is set to bring forward once again the well-worn images of the summit talks between Reagan and Gorbachev in Geneva. It is a reproduction of the days during the summit. On the one hand, pictures are gathered from the perspective as an onlooker in Geneva, on the other hand, the old television footage is processed.

When the snow melts and the hills of Appenzell are dotted with green and white, buckets of water slowly make their way up and down the slope. After a time, the gentle movement turns into violent swaying. Shots ring through the air, the buckets are punctured. Slowly the water begins to flow. This is the high point of a ritual that begins deep within the bowels of the mountain. Then trails of water spurt through the air to the thawing slopes and the water begins to gush, nearly causing the well in the valley to overflow.

SIGNERS KOFFER is a kind of road movie across Europa. From the Swiss Alps to eastern Poland, from Stromboli to Iceland. Always following the scenery's magically charged contours. Immersing yourself, letting yourself be infected, then travelling on. Roman Signer determines the route that we are moving on and the film improvises along the way. Being on the road also means tracking down the right places. Signer brings them alive using his own personel instruments, brilliantly simple operations full of subtle humour. «Simple» poems being transmitted into space with INSTRUMENTS as gunpowder, fuse, rubber boots, balloons, stool, small table ... and a three wheelded Plaggio. SIGNERS KOFFER is also a journey through the state of mind. A tightrope walk between fun and melancholy. Danger also mental mental danger becomes the stimulus of the senses. Sudden crashes, abrupt chagnes of mood determine the rythm and atmosphere of this cinematic journey.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.

8mm film by Swiss artist Roman Signer.