HEIMATKLÄNGE

The most primal of all musical instruments is the human voice. "I assume that at some point the human being had the urge to extend the pleasure of speaking," suggests Erika Stucky, the Swiss-American vocal and performance artist, whose work, alongside that of fellow Swiss musicians Christian Zehnder and Noldi Alder, is featured in this documentary.

Set against the backdrop of impressive alpine landscapes and urban cities, Schwietert's film examines the creative processes of the three musicians whose work stretches the limits of what could usually be described as singing and extends the traditional alpine vocal arts such as yodelling into new forms of expression. Footage of their extraordinary performances blends with personal material such as home videos and photographs and throughout the film Schwietert inextricably links their musical explorations to the sounds and images of their homeland.

"For me as a musician, the question of 'where do I come from?' is of fundamental importance. What is it that I draw on to create? The further I can go back, the more ingrained this foundation is, the greater its strength and the more powerful my artistic expression." Christian Zehnder

Audience Award, Visions du Réel, Nyon 2007