Switzerland Shows Its Dark Side in Jan-Eric Mack’s ‘A Happy Family’: ‘People Don’t Talk’

Switzerland is still one of the richest countries in the world. But there are cracks in its foundation, argues director Jan-Eric Mack.

“During the pandemic, we started seeing people lining up to get food. It was an unusual sight in Switzerland, where you don’t see poverty on the streets that much. But these numbers are rising,” he says.

“People don’t talk about it, but so many of them are affected. Especially single mothers.”

In “A Happy Family” – the first Swiss film to be screened in Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s Crystal Globe Competition – Niki (Anna Schinz) works all the time to provide for her two children. 

One day, when she’s away again, they accidentally set the kitchen on fire and the authorities place them with a foster family in another city. Niki isn’t allowed to contact or see her kids – but she can’t stay away. 

Michael Neuenschwander, Julia Jentsch, Alireza Bayram, Bettina Stucky and Martina Apostolova also star. Sold by Bendita Film Sales, it’s produced by C-Films AG.

“Women [like Niki] feel invisible in this society. There’s a lot of injustice in the system, and that’s what we wanted to show.”

Still, “A Happy Family” is not your usual social realist drama, and Mack likes it this way. 

“We decided to tell this story strictly from her perspective, and her desire to be close to her kids leads to some very unusual situations. There’s a lot of grotesque humor here.”

Mostly because Niki is ready to do whatever it takes.

“During our research, we learnt that parents will go to extreme places when their children are taken away. We understand this, but we also understand she puts them in a conflict of loyalty, which makes her a very ambivalent character.”

As Niki’s actions take an odd turn, so does the film, embracing thriller elements.

“When you pitch this topic, it feels like a normal social drama. I loved playing with these expectations. She has to put everything at risk, which immediately creates tension,” notes Mack.

However, he was still trying to understand “both sides” of the conflict.  

“To me, this title is very dialectic. A ‘happy family’ doesn’t really exist – it’s a dream. Every family has its ups and downs. The authorities have to make difficult decisions in these cases. It’s not about blaming anyone, because they’re also trying to protect the children and they’re doing their job.” 

He adds: “In my short ‘Facing Mecca’ [about a Syrian refugee trying to bury his wife according to Islamic traditions] I also talked about complex social issues. I’m really interested in them as a political human being.”

He still believes in people, he says, and in the good in them. 

“Sometimes, it’s all about doing the right thing, but I didn’t want to pass moral judgements here. I like that you can’t decide which side you’re on [in ‘A Happy Family’]. You can just ask yourself: What would I do in this situation? Who’s wrong and who’s right?” 

So what would he do? 

“I would take my car and go there. Just like she does.”