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Synopsis
Award-winning Basel architect Barbara Buser saves buildings from demolition and renovates them using reclaimed building materials. She transforms former industrial sites into urban living spaces that represent a mindful approach to our environment and community. A film that conveys astonishing insights, inspires, and provokes thought – all with great momentum, humor, and lightness.
Barbara Buser (Protagonist)
After completing her studies, Barbara Buser worked in Sudan and later in Tanzania, where she learned how to build using reclaimed materials. Upon returning to Basel, she became the first female ferrywoman on the Rhine. Her childhood home was the first building she saved from demolition. She transformed a former machine factory in Basel into a neighborhood center; the ‘Gundeldinger Feld’ is now considered her masterpiece. Shortly before the turn of the millennium, she co-founded baubüro insitu with Eric Honegger, followed by other companies that all operate according to the same principle: a circular economy instead of waste, and a ‘caring economy’ instead of profit orientation. Major awards, such as the Prix Meret Oppenheim and several prizes for the visionary K118 building at the Lagerplatz in Winterthur, confirm her success and the achievements of her fellow campaigners.
©Photo: Raphaela Graf
Gabriele Schärer (Film Director)
Born in 1957 in Bern. Studied at the University of Fine Arts (HfbK) in Hamburg. From 1986–97, she worked at the Media Pedagogy Center in Hamburg. In 1997, she earned her Master’s degree in Visual Communication from the HfbK Hamburg, specializing in film and photography. From 1999–2003, she was a member of the Film Commission of the City of Bern. She works in the field of film and television directing. From 1999–2014, she was a lecturer for the ‘Vorkurs’ in Bern. Since 1999, she has been realizing her own documentary film projects.
©Photo: Raphaela Graf
Barbara Buser (Protagonist)
After completing her studies, Barbara Buser worked in Sudan and later in Tanzania, where she learned how to build using reclaimed materials. Upon returning to Basel, she became the first female ferrywoman on the Rhine. Her childhood home was the first building she saved from demolition. She transformed a former machine factory in Basel into a neighborhood center; the ‘Gundeldinger Feld’ is now considered her masterpiece. Shortly before the turn of the millennium, she co-founded baubüro insitu with Eric Honegger, followed by other companies that all operate according to the same principle: a circular economy instead of waste, and a ‘caring economy’ instead of profit orientation. Major awards, such as the Prix Meret Oppenheim and several prizes for the visionary K118 building at the Lagerplatz in Winterthur, confirm her success and the achievements of her fellow campaigners.
Gabriele Schärer (Film Director)
Born in 1957 in Bern. Studied at the University of Fine Arts (HfbK) in Hamburg. From 1986–97, she worked at the Media Pedagogy Center in Hamburg. In 1997, she earned her Master’s degree in Visual Communication from the HfbK Hamburg, specializing in film and photography. From 1999–2003, she was a member of the Film Commission of the City of Bern. She works in the field of film and television directing. From 1999–2014, she was a lecturer for the ‘Vorkurs’ in Bern. Since 1999, she has been realizing her own documentary film projects.
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Credits
FEATURING
Barbara Buser
Eric Honegger
Daniel Glauser
Valérie Waibel
Laia Sofia Meier
Andreas Ruby
Marc Angst
Anna Buser
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
Gabriele Schärer
CINEMATOGRAPHY & PRODUCER
Peter Zwierko
SOUND
Balthasar Jucker
Patrick Becker
Senso Stampa
EDITING
Konstantin Gutscher
MUSIC
SULP SwissUrbanLändlerPassion
SOUND DESIGN & MIXING
Thomas Rechberger
Klangfilm Studios
COLOR GRADING
Hannes Rüttimann
Postino Post-Produktion
PRODUCTION
Sulaco Film GmbH
IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH
Maat Film
Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen
SWISS DISTRIBUTION
First Hand Films
WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF
Fachausschuss Film und Medienkunst BS/BL
Bundesamt für Kultur (BAK)
SWISSLOS / Kultur Kanton Bern
Suissimage Kulturfonds
Ernst Göhner Stiftung
Foundation Sotto Voce
Swisslos-Fonds des Kantons Solothurn
Forster Swiss Home AG
USM
Basler Stiftung Bau & Kultur
Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction
ETH Sustainability
Burgergemeinde Bern
Christoph Merian Stiftung
Stiftung Edith Maryon
Stiftung Abendrot
Technical Details
FORMAT
DCP (2K), 5.1
YEAR
2026
DURATION
118min
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE
Swiss Dialect, German
COLOR
Yes
SUBTITLES LANGUAGE
German, French, English, Italian
ISAN
0000-0006-107A-0000-P-0000-0000-0
Contact
PRODUCTION / WORLD RIGHTS
Sulaco Film GmbH
Peter Zwierko
Im Westfeld 8 | 4055 Basel
info@sulacofilm.ch
www.sulacofilm.ch
DISTRIBUTION SWITZERLAND
First Hand Films
Neunbrunnenstrasse 50 | 8050 Zürich
verleih@firsthandfilms.ch
www.firsthandfilms.ch
+41 44 312 20 60
DISTRIBUTION AUSTRIA
Stadtkino Filmverleih
Siebensterngasse 2 | 1070 Wien
p.sturm@stadtkinowien.at
www.stadtkinowien.at
+43 1 361 81 81–72
DISTRIBUTION GERMANY
mindjazz pictures
Geisselstr. 12 I 50823 Köln
office@mindjazz-pictures.de
www.mindjazz-pictures.de
+49 221 301 49 88
