Dave D. Leins

The Swiss are proud of their direct democracy and largely satisfied with their government. In Germany, dissatisfaction is steadily increasing. The film ventures a thought experiment and asks: What if Germany's political leaders were to take more of a cue from Switzerland?

Barely known and never seen, elephant shrews baffle even the zoologists. With their stilt-like legs and long mobile trunk, joined to the body of a large shrew with a golden bottom, they certainly deserve their name - though they are related to neither elephant not shrew! This shy, endangered creature has become the mascot of Kenya’s beautiful Arabuko National Park. The income they attract via tourism pays for the education of local children. The elephant shrew has truly become the Spirit of the Forest.

Switzerland has long been a special partner for Russia: A non-member of the EU and NATO, a welcome investor in Russia and the world’s most important trading centre for Russian raw materials. Now things are different in both countries.

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"In the beginning, my first documentary was meant to be a portrait of the president of the carnival club in my home village. During the filming, it went clear very fast, that my protagonist was wearing a mask not only at Carnival. He lives a double life. I gradually realized that this film project has a lot in common with my own history too. I discovered parallels between the story of the carnival president and mine. The originally planned, straight forward portrait, turned into an essay on home in general and an ethical lesson in film making. The director became the protagonist and the protagonist a director." - Dave D. Leins