Cyril Schäublin

In 1877, in a watch factory in a valley in north-western Switzerland, Josephine produces balance spindles, tiny parts that ensure the agitation movement ("unrueh") of the mechanical watches. She soon grows uneasy with the organisation of work and possession in the village and its factory and joins the anarchist worker movement of the local watchmakers. There she meets Piotr Kropotkin, a moony Russian traveller. The two of them meet at a time when new technologies such as time measurement, photography and the telegraph are transforming the social order and anarchist discourse is addressing emerging nationalism. During a walk in the woods, Josephine and Piotr ask themselves whether time, money and the government are not all but fictions.

In 1877, in a watch factory in a valley in north-western Switzerland, Josephine produces balance spindles, tiny parts that ensure the agitation movement ("unrueh") of the mechanical watches. She soon grows uneasy with the organisation of work and possession in the village and its factory and joins the anarchist worker movement of the local watchmakers. There she meets Piotr Kropotkin, a moony Russian traveller. The two of them meet at a time when new technologies such as time measurement, photography and the telegraph are transforming the social order and anarchist discourse is addressing emerging nationalism. During a walk in the woods, Josephine and Piotr ask themselves whether time, money and the government are not all but fictions.

In 1877, in a watch factory in a valley in north-western Switzerland, Josephine produces balance spindles, tiny parts that ensure the agitation movement ("unrueh") of the mechanical watches. She soon grows uneasy with the organisation of work and possession in the village and its factory and joins the anarchist worker movement of the local watchmakers. There she meets Piotr Kropotkin, a moony Russian traveller. The two of them meet at a time when new technologies such as time measurement, photography and the telegraph are transforming the social order and anarchist discourse is addressing emerging nationalism. During a walk in the woods, Josephine and Piotr ask themselves whether time, money and the government are not all but fictions.

As snow falls over a city, people share secret tricks with each other. Like how to kiss somebody and make them disappear, or having thoughts which are unrecognizable to machines.

In 1887, Peter Kropotkin stayed briefly in the Swiss Jura, fiefdom of the watchmaking industry and epicentre of the international anarchist movement. He would retain a strong impression of his encounter with the highly organised local workers, whose “equalitarian relationships and independent thought” he would praise in his diary. 140 years after the “conversion” of this man who was to theorise libertarian communism a little later on, Cyril Schäublin restages fragments of this diary read in Russian, in the current setting. A place in which his ancestors, who worked from generation to generation in the watchmaking manufactures of this region until their closure, still survive.

In 1887, Peter Kropotkin stayed briefly in the Swiss Jura, fiefdom of the watchmaking industry and epicentre of the international anarchist movement. He would retain a strong impression of his encounter with the highly organised local workers, whose “equalitarian relationships and independent thought” he would praise in his diary. 140 years after the “conversion” of this man who was to theorise libertarian communism a little later on, Cyril Schäublin restages fragments of this diary read in Russian, in the current setting. A place in which his ancestors, who worked from generation to generation in the watchmaking manufactures of this region until their closure, still survive.

Using her skills of selling Internet and insurance deals, young call center employee Alice calls up elderly strangers and pretends to be their granddaughter in urgent need of money. As this trick quickly makes her rich, the film observes people and places in Zurich, all mysteriously connected to Alice’s business.

Using her skills of selling Internet and insurance deals, young call center employee Alice calls up elderly strangers and pretends to be their granddaughter in urgent need of money. As this trick quickly makes her rich, the film observes people and places in Zurich, all mysteriously connected to Alice’s business.

Using her skills of selling Internet and insurance deals, young call center employee Alice calls up elderly strangers and pretends to be their granddaughter in urgent need of money. As this trick quickly makes her rich, the film observes people and places in Zurich, all mysteriously connected to Alice’s business.

A contemplative search for traces of life in an abandoned industrial area, which once used to be the biggest and most modern coal mine in the world.

“I think this is one of the only places in Seattle where people can come and everybody is the same.” Christopher Hogan, Security Officer Created for the exhibition "Culture:City" curated by the architects Mathias Sauerbruch (Sauerbruch/Hutton) and Wilfried Wang, Akademie der Künste Berlin

“I think this is one of the only places in Seattle where people can come and everybody is the same.” Christopher Hogan, Security Officer Created for the exhibition "Culture:City" curated by the architects Mathias Sauerbruch (Sauerbruch/Hutton) and Wilfried Wang, Akademie der Künste Berlin

“I think this is one of the only places in Seattle where people can come and everybody is the same.” Christopher Hogan, Security Officer Created for the exhibition "Culture:City" curated by the architects Mathias Sauerbruch (Sauerbruch/Hutton) and Wilfried Wang, Akademie der Künste Berlin

“I think this is one of the only places in Seattle where people can come and everybody is the same.” Christopher Hogan, Security Officer Created for the exhibition "Culture:City" curated by the architects Mathias Sauerbruch (Sauerbruch/Hutton) and Wilfried Wang, Akademie der Künste Berlin

A mass panic at a vast subway station somewhere in the Northwestern hemisphere leaves its survivors perplexed. What happened to trigger the stampede? At the peak of the rush hour the film goes on a journey into the landscape of public fears.

A mass panic at a vast subway station somewhere in the Northwestern hemisphere leaves its survivors perplexed. What happened to trigger the stampede? At the peak of the rush hour the film goes on a journey into the landscape of public fears.

A mirror is located in the elevator of a big subway station in Berlin. Passengers from all parts of the world enter and leave to change between the different platforms. In the mirror they are facing themselves.

Two teenagers' lives are brought together through internet webcams. Anton's desire is awakened after discovering Lenny's personal video blog on YouTube. Away from the screen, Anton wanders through the big city, wondering whether his virtual meeting with Lenny has a place in the real world.

Two teenagers' lives are brought together through internet webcams. Anton's desire is awakened after discovering Lenny's personal video blog on YouTube. Away from the screen, Anton wanders through the big city, wondering whether his virtual meeting with Lenny has a place in the real world.

"The savage lives within himself, while social man lives constantly outside himself, and only knows how to live in the opinion of others." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"The savage lives within himself, while social man lives constantly outside himself, and only knows how to live in the opinion of others." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"The savage lives within himself, while social man lives constantly outside himself, and only knows how to live in the opinion of others." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"The savage lives within himself, while social man lives constantly outside himself, and only knows how to live in the opinion of others." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"The savage lives within himself, while social man lives constantly outside himself, and only knows how to live in the opinion of others." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Silent short film by Cyril Schäublin.

Silent short film by Cyril Schäublin.

Silent short film by Cyril Schäublin.

Silent short film by Cyril Schäublin.