The Black Brothers

by Xavier Koller

Switzerland, 19th century. 14-year-old Giorgio is sold to a Milanese man who trains him to become a chimneysweep. When the boy and his friends are threatened by a gang called the Wolves, Giorgio‘s friend Alfredo founds a rival gang, the Black Brothers...

Feature films

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DATA SHEET

Orginal title:

Die Schwarzen Brüder

Year:

2013

Length (min.):

95'

Original language:

Tedesco / German

International Title:

The Black Brothers

Production:

Enigma Film

Co-Producers:

Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion, Herold Produciton, RSI, SRG SSR; BR, WDR, NDR, ARTE

Worlds sales:

Global Screen

Distributors:

Filmcoopi

With the support of:

FFF Bayern
Filmstiftung NRW
Filmförderungsanstalt FFA
Hessen Invest
MFG Baden-Württemberg
Kuratorium junger deutscher Film
BKM
Filmstiftung Zürich
Bundesamt für Kultur BAK
BLS Südtirol

Prizes
(selection):

3 mal Auszeichnung „Goldener Spatz“ 2014
Prix Walo 2014, „Beste Produktion“
Nominierung Grimmepreis „Bestes Drehbuch“ 2011

Festivals
(selection):

Zurich Film Festival 2013
18. Schlingel - Internationales Filmfestival für Kinder und junges Publikum, 2013
26. Castellinaria Festival internazionale del cinema giovane Bellinzona, 2013
Hamburg Film Festival 2013
Rio de Janeiro Film Festival 2013
Solothurner Filmtag 2014
4th Beijing International Film Festival, 2014
17. Shanghai International Film Festival, 2014
10. Festival des deutschen Films, 2014

Official website:

https://www.enigmafilm.de/index.php/de/filme/die-schwarzen-brueder

Facebook:

https://bit.ly/2He15DY

CONTACT

Enigma Film
https://www.enigmafilm.de/index.php/de/

SYNOPSIS

Up until the middle of the 19th century, poverty stricken mountain farmers from the Ticino area of Switzerland frequently sold their children to Milan as chimney sweeps or spazzacamini. That is also young Giorgio's fate. He is forced to climb through pitch black chimneys, flinging down the soot with his bare hands. But he does not lose heart. Together with his buddies sharing in the same misery, he establishes the association of Black Brothers. They stick together, struggling against their penury and getting involved in fights with the street gangs of Milan. The film tells of the gripping adventures of the chimney sweep boys and their spectacular escape back to their native land.

LOCATION

Vallemaggia