Les films du renard · 2005

Hans Schmidt, architecte

Véronique Goël · video · 45 min · 2005

Synopsis

A pioneer of modern architecture in Switzerland, Hans Schmidt (Basel, 1893–1972) continually fought for an architecture that would not be merely “art” but a form of social commitment, conceiving his work as contributing to the “building” of a more egalitarian society.

Following this principle, in 1930 he left with the “May Brigade” to work in construction and urban planning in the Soviet Union. “Forced” to leave Moscow in 1937, he returned to Basel. From then on he attempted a synthesis between the modern rationalisation of plans and the possibility of reconnecting with a more popular architectural expression.

Eventually boycotted because of his active involvement in the Swiss Party of Labour (PdT), of which he had been a co-founder, he settled in East Berlin in 1956. Respected as a theorist and teacher, he found the “climate” too unfavourable to “foreign guests” for him to be offered opportunities to build. In 1970 he retired and returned to Basel.

English translation for this modern page; the supplied historical English page retained the synopsis in French.

Collaborators

Idea and direction: Véronique Goël
Images: Thomas Keller, Grischa Duncker, Véronique Goël
Additional sounds and mixing: Martin Stricker
Special effects: Ulrich Fischer
Translations: Elisabeth Waelchli
Editing: Orsola Valenti, Catherine Tissot
Production management: Judith Lichtneckert
Voice over: Julien Schmid and Claudine Després

Bio / filmography — 2006 archive

Véronique Goël ↗

Born in Rolle, Switzerland · Lives and works in Geneva

1978 — Soliloque pour voix de femme and frigidaire, video 1/2", b/w, 15 min
1979 — Allegro, 16mm, color, 24 min
1981 — Avant l'été, video 3/4", b/w, 8 min
1981 — Un autre été, 16mm, b/w, 87 min
1982 — Soliloque 2 / la barbarie, 16mm, color, 20 min
1984–85 — Précis, 16mm, b/w, 82 min
1988 — Caprices, 16mm, color, 56 min
1990–91 — Perfect Life, 16mm, color, 82 min
1992 — Soliloque 3, 16mm, color, 37 min
1996 — Kenwin, 16mm, color, 85 min
1998 — Le 18 octobre, Super 8, color and b/w, 7 min, silent
1999 — Backstage, DV, color, 5’40
2001 — PAIX, DVD, color, 4 min, silent
2005 — Agbar, DV, color, 10’50
2005 — Hans Schmidt, architecte, Beta, color, 45 min
2006 — Poble No, Beta, color, approx. 30 min, release announced June 2006

Information reproduced from the 2005–2006 Les films du renard page.

Festivals 2005–2006

Visions du Réel, Festival International de Cinéma
doclisboa 2005
Rencontres internationales Paris/Berlin/... 2005