Conversation over the fence

2014 | Documentary | 13.5 min | BA Film

Directed by Lisa Gerig

Collection: Degree Films 2015

A documentary essay-like film about the deportation center in Zürich. As a part of the prison group form the Solidarity Network I regularly visit detainees. These visits are a way of attempting to ensure that these people are not left alone in their isolation.The film describes the situation of the detainees, that are held in the deportation center under strict rules up to 18 months. I never enter the prison with my camera during the film - the detainees stay faceless. My voice gives the spectator a better understanding of the doom of these people in this forgotten place.

Runtime13.5 min
Year of Production2014
Country of ProductionSwitzerland
Distribution FormatDCP, QT, DVD, Blu-ray
Audio FormatStereo
Spoken LanguageGerman
Available SubtitlesEnglish, French
Director Lisa Gerig
Cinematography Lisa Gerig
Editor Lisa Gerig
Screenplay Lisa Gerig
Sound Mixing Gregg Skerman
Project Supervision Marille Hahne, Barbara Weber
Executive Producer Filippo Bonacci
Head of Programme BA Film Prof. Bernhard Lehner

News

24. November 2015
ZHdK documentary film wins!

Lisa Gerig's documentary film "Zaungespräche" has been awarded the ARRI Prize for Best Documentary Film. The film documents the director's visits to the inmates of a Swiss detention centre awaiting deportation.

More information


Screenings

26. July 2018 – 5. August 2018
Kieswerk Open Air
Weil am Rhein | Germany

7. December 2016 – 11. December 2016
Human Rights Film Festival
Riff Raff | Zurich | Switzerland

5. May 2016 – 15. May 2016
Int. Dokumentarfilmfestival München
Sektion DOK.filmschools.forum

17. March 2016
Swiss Film Prize 2016
Week of the Nominees
Swiss Film Prize Quartz 2016 | Geneva | Film School Productions | ZHdK

15. March 2016
Swiss Film Prize 2016
Week of the Nominees
Swiss Film Prize Quartz 2016 | Zurich | Film School Productions | ZHdK

3. March 2016 – 6. March 2016
Nonfiktionale
Aibling

21. January 2016 – 28. January 2016
51. Solothurner Filmtage

15. November 2015 – 21. November 2015
Int. Festival der Filmhochschulen München