I’m just a simple person

Kathrin Engler, an orphan from the St. Gall region of the Rhine valley, was 22 when she accepted her childhood sweetheart’s written marriage proposal and emigrated to Canada.
The portrait of this extremely humble 90-year-old woman, who now lives in the Province of Alberta, provides a fascinating insight into the social history and the annals of Swiss emigration. More than that, it reveals a wonderful love story worthy of fairy tales – one that almost did not come about.

Haupt’s documentary film about the ordinary and simple life of a Swiss woman is so tender that you leave the cinema with a sense of pure joy in your heart.
Züritipp, 19.02.1999

The face of the aged yet beauti- ful woman captures the viewer’s complete attention. (...) I’m Just a Simple Person is a film of rare simplicity in terms of content and form – and therein also lies the beauty and richness of this masterful portrait.
Andreas Stock, St. Galler Tagblatt, 17.06.1999

The portrayed woman’s attitude towards life has a direct impact on the formal epitome here, as well as on the rhythm. That’s hard to find these days. (...) The viewer is simply moved by the manner in which the 90-year-old woman is able to tell her life story in just a few words and slow pace. The power of the film feeds on the aura of her entire being.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 28.10.1998

RegieStefan Haupt

KameraJann Erne

TonJann Erne

SchnittKathrin Plüss

CastingCorinna Glaus

DarstellerInnenKathrin Engler-Schäpper u.a.m.

OriginalversionEnglish/Deutsch (deutsche Untertitel),
Farbe, BetaSP, 49 min.
Version mit engl. Untertiteln auch erhältlich

ProduktionFontana Film

Koproduktion Schweizer Fernsehen DRS / SRG SSR idée suisse

WeltrechteFontana Film

Verleih SchweizFontana Film

UraufführungKino: Mai 1998
TV-Ausstrahlungen auf SF DRS, TSR, 3sat