Urs Jucker Movies
An actor who first found success on the Swiss stage, Urs Jucker evinced a powerful but understated style that made him an ideal candidate to make the transition into film work. While Jucker had already appeared in a handful of movies by the time he portrayed the practical-minded father of a piano prodigy in Vitus (2006), it was this role that led international film fans and critics to finally stand up and take notice of Jucker, whose substantial acting abilities allowed him to drift effortlessly between the stage and the screen. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 2008
A young man makes a commitment to a pop singer on whom he has a crush - only to run headfirst into unforeseeable circumstances - in Swiss director Micha Lewinsky's gentle, offbeat seriocomedy Der Freund. For Emil Funk (Philippe Graber), Zurich-based musician Larissa Mahler (Emilie Weltie) is the essence of appeal and desirability; after watching her perform, he dreams of meeting her. The young man sees his wish come true in the form of a brief encounter with Larissa, but must contend with a bizarre request: she asks him to "pretend" to be her boyfriend. Emil obliges but grows understandably confused when Larissa disappears, then suddenly dies the next day. Recognizing the value of a commitment, he insists on standing by her family as an emotional anchor and guiding them through a period of intense sorrow - which draws him into a close and unexpected bond with Larissa's sister, Nora (Johanna Bantzer). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philippe Graber, Johanna Bantzer, (more)
A young boy whose remarkable, almost supernatural capacity for learning prompts his parents to anticipate a brilliant future as a pianist rebels to take his fate into his own hands in director Fredi M. Murer's contemplative family drama. By kindergarten Vitus is reading encyclopedias, and by age five he is a piano prodigy. Despite the fact that his parents do their best to nurture the young boy's natural talent for music, Vitus seems strangely disinterested in refining his exceptional talents on the ivory. In fact, the only place where Vitus seems to be in his element is in his eccentric grandfather's cluttered workshop. Now, as the young boy begins to display a keen interest in aviation, one fateful leap will set his entire future into motion, and offer a compelling preview of things to come. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Teo Gheorghiu, Bruno Ganz, (more)
