The Little Switzerland

{{Infobox film

| name = The Little Switzerland

| native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|La pequeña Suiza|nolink=yes}}

| image = The Little Switzerland poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Kepa Sojo

| writer = {{plainlist|

Alberto López
Daniel Monedero
Jelen Morales
Sonia Pacios
Kepa Sojo

}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| producer = {{plainlist|

Ricardo Marco Budé
José Luis Jiménez
Kiko Martínez
Ignacio Salazar-Simpson
Katixa Silva
Leonel Vieira

}}

| cinematography = Kenneth Oribe

| runtime = 86 minutes

| released = {{film date|2019|04|26|Spain|df=y}}

| production_companies = {{plainlist|

Nadie es perfecto
Kuttuna Filmak
Stopline Films

}}

| country = {{ubl|Spain}}

| language = Spanish

| distributor = eOne Films

}}

The Little Switzerland ({{langx|es|La pequeña Suiza|links=no}}) is a 2019 Spanish comedy film directed by Kepa Sojo and starring Maggie Civantos, Jon Plazaola, Ingrid García-Jonsson and Secun de la Rosa.{{cite news |url=http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/cultura-en-rtvees/pequena-suiza-comedia-sobre-pueblo-castellano-vasco-quiere-ser-paraiso-fiscal/5053480/ |title=RTVE.es estrena el trálier de 'La pequeña Suiza' |date=12 March 2019 |access-date=6 May 2019 |language=es |work=Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española}} The plot draws inspiration from the Treviño enclave dispute,{{cite web |title=La pequeña Suiza, una desternillante comedia inspirada en el condado de Treviño |url=https://www.eitb.eus/es/television/programas/la-noche-de/videos/detalle/8546551/la-pequena-suiza-desternillante-comedia-inspirada-en-condado-de-trevino-/ |website=EITB Euskal Irrati Telebista |access-date=15 February 2022 |language=es |date=2021-12-28}} and comedy films such as Passport to Pimlico (1949),{{cite news |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/ocio-y-cultura/20190425/critica-cine--la-pequena-suiza-comedia-sobre-la-identidad-sin-entidad-7424325 |title='La pequeña Suiza': comedia sobre la identidad, sin entidad |first=Beatriz |last=Martínez |date=25 April 2019 |access-date=6 May 2019 |newspaper=El Periódico |language=es |publisher=Grupo Zeta}} and Welcome Mr. Marshall! (1953).{{cite news |last1=Jiménez |first1=Jesús |title='La pequeña Suiza', Berlanga inspira una comedia sobre los nacionalismos |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20190426/pequena-suiza-berlanga-inspira-comedia-sobre-nacionalismos/1927981.shtml |access-date=15 February 2022 |work=RTVE.es |date=26 April 2019 |language=es}}

Plot

The plot concerns about a town in Castile and León with a majority of citizens leaning towards joining the Basque Country. Those attempts are frustrated by the opposition of the Junta of Castile and León and the passivity of the Basque Government. An archeology student then finds a crypt with the purported remains of William Tell's son Walter and the population ensuingly proceed to embrace a Swiss identity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/series/cine/20190424/pueblo-castilla-leon-queria-euskadi-termino-suiza/393211197_0.html|website=El Español|title=El pueblo de Castilla y León que quería ser parte de Euskadi y terminó siendo Suiza|date=24 April 2018|last=Berrueta|first=Julen}}

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Pêpê Rapazote as Fernando
Maggie Civantos as Yolanda
Ingrid García Jonsson as Nathalie
Antonio Resines as Pascual
Karra Elejalde as Peio
Anabela Teixeira as Heidi
Kandido Uranga as Añíbarro
Ramón Barea as Antolín
Secun de la Rosa as Don Anselmo
Enrique Villén as Revuelta
Jon Plazaola as Gorka
Mikel Losada as Bernabé
Maribel Salas as Anamari
Lander Otaola as Iker
Susana Soleto as Reportera
Isabel Guardiola as Secretaria suiza
Iñigo Salinero

}}

Production

A Spanish production,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/2019/secciones_y_peliculas/zinemira/7/670308/es|website=San Sebastián International Film Festival|access-date=23 April 2023|title=La pequeña Suiza}} the film was produced by Nadie es perfecto alongside Kuttuna Filmak and Stopline Films, with the participation of RTVE. Shooting locations in Álava included Arceniega, Ayala, Llodio, and Vitoria.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gasteizhoy.com/vitoria-grabacion-pelicula-la-pequena-suiza/|website=GasteizHoy|title=La película alavesa "La Pequeña Suiza" se estrena en cines|first=Zuriñe|last=Gómez|date=25 April 2019}}

Release

Distributed by eOne Films, the film was released theatrically in Spain on 26 April 2019.

Reception

According to Jordi Battle Caminal, reviewing for Fotogramas, the best of the film are the supporting characters.{{cite news |url=https://www.fotogramas.es/peliculas-criticas/a27280345/la-pequena-suiza-critica-pelicula/ |title=Crítica de 'La pequeña Suiza' |first=Jordi |last=Batlle Caminal |date=25 April 2019 |access-date=6 May 2019 |magazine=Fotogramas |publisher=Hearst Magazines International |language=es}}