CHRIGU (CHRIS)
Schweiz 2007 – Director: Jan Gassmann, Christian Ziörjen – Original language: Swiss German – Subtitles: English – Length: 87 min.
"Let's make a movie together", says Chrigu. "I'll just drop out at some point." Aged just 21, director Christian Ziörjen, known as Chrigu, discovers he has cancer. Never without his camera, he decides to document his life during his illness. When his condition deteriorates, best friend Jan takes over the shooting.
Created from over 120 hours of footage, Chris is the portrait of a young man with big plans whose life is cut short by the effects of an incurable disease. This film does not focus on death, but rather life and its brevity. We follow Chrigu's circle of friends, members of hip hop band "Mundartisten", and his family, providing a capsule portrait of a generation. These clips are edited together with older footage to synchronise past and present, providing a juxtaposition of vastly different emotions. These contrasts are the film’s strength, presenting a deeply moving story, without ever appealing to pity.
A vibrant composition of striking and unusual shots, Chris is a thought-provoking film made as a personal testimony to true friendship and the beauty of life.
Award: Prize of the Ecumenical Jury for the section The International Forum of New Cinema, Berlinale 2007
English/Original Title: Chris. Camera: Jan Gassmann, Christian Ziörjen. Sound: David Wasilevski. Editing: Jan Gassmann. Music: Mundartisten. Production: xefilms GmbH. Producer: Thomas Jörg.
