The Vanishing of Bruno Breguet
15th September 2024
h. 16:30
Concorso Internazionale
Synopsis:
“The Vanishing of Bruno Breguet” a documentary film by Swiss director Olmo Cerri, tells the forgotten story of the young Ticino militant Bruno Breguet. In June 1970, at 20 years old, Breguet was arrested in Israel while attempting to smuggle explosives for the Palestinian resistance. During his seven years in prison, Bruno became further radicalized and, upon his release from prison, joined forces with notorious terrorist called Carlos. The feature film traces Breguet’s tumultuous life, from his attacks alongside Carlos to his intense love affairs, following his relentless quest for social justice. In 1991, Breguet made contact with the CIA, but in 1995 his story took a mysterious turn when he disappeared without a trace on a trip from Italy to Greece. His disappearance initially stirs the media, but over time, his case is abandoned and leaves behind a void of unanswered questions. Through interviews with his supporters, friends and experts, the director reconstructs Breguet’s story, exploring not only historical events but also the existential meaning of militancy.
Director’s notes:
The story of Bruno Breguet challenges me and poses a fundamental question, as relevant in 1970 as today: what can we do to seek change for the injustices of the world? The heart of the film tells the forgotten story of the young militant Bruno Breguet who, in June 1970, is arrested in Israel while carrying out an assassination attempt with the Palestinian resistance. He will serve seven years in prison. From that moment, an escalation occurs. Around this narrative I posed a whole series of questions: what choices do I have to intervene in the world’s injustices? The Mediterranean is a graveyard. Refugee camps are also in Europe, we are in the midst of a climate emergency, the future is not looking any better than the past, and the genocide against the Palestinian people has taken on new strength in the very weeks that we finished editing the documentary.