Manipulation Press Dossier by Aspect Film Ltd

Klaus Maria Brandauer

Sebastian Koch

manipulation Nothing is more true than a good lie...

Based on the best-selling novel, â&#x20AC;&#x17E;The Interrogation of Harry Windâ&#x20AC;&#x153; by Walter Matthias Diggelmann Press dossier

www.manipulationmovie.com

coming soon

european star cinema

filmfonds.ch

The new political thriller from Switzerland:

„Manipulation“ celebrates its premiere! ! Starring Klaus Maria Brandauer („Mephisto“, „Out of Africa“) and Sebastian Koch („The Lives of Others“)

(Picture no. 101)

International Premiere:

Na faccum ing erostrud modolorperat lut autpatisit laor in ea feu feummod t (Picture no. 000)

Production Company: EUROPEAN STAR CINEMA c/o Sunvision Filmatelier Alex Martin + Philipp Rapold Steinenvorstadt 67 CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland Phone: +41 61 333 90 10 Fax: +41 61 333 90 11 Email: contact@sunvision-filmatelier.com www.sunvision-filmatelier.com

16th BUSAN International Film Festival

Table of contents

6 -14 October, 2011

02... Contact persons / screenings

World Sales : ASPECT FILM Ltd., GB-London Hugh Edwards, +44 20 7993 5877 hugh@aspectfilm.com North America, Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Israel: FILMFONDS.CH GmbH, CH-Basel Philipp Rapold, +41 61 733 87 00 philipp.rapold@filmfonds.ch Switzerland: ASCOT ELITE ENTERTAINMENT, CH-Zürich Dietmar Steg, +41 44 298 81 85, dietmar@ascot-elite.ch Austria: ELMO-MOVIEWORLD, A-Wien Monique A. Göschl, +43 664 8861 3266 m.goeschl@elmo-movieworld.at

04... Cult novel adaptation 07... Synopsis 09... W.M. Diggelmann, novelist 10... Interview with Klaus Maria Brandauer 16... Interview with Sebastian Koch 22... Production notes 24... Alex Martin, producer, writer 25... Pascal Verdosci, director 27... Rapold/Eckenstein, co-producers 28... Cast, crew & production company 30... Photo gallery

Swiss film crew shoots Swiss cult novel:

The new political thriller. Made in Switzerland. How the Swiss cult novel „Das Verhör des Harry Wind“became the political thriller „Manipulation“ – and why a good lie is more believable than the truth… Manipulation is a political thriller about the small yet significant difference between truth and believability. „To get people to believe stories,” says producer Alex Martin, „they don‘t have to be true, just presented in a convincing manner.“ He says that a good lie can be far more believable than a complex truth that is hard to understand.

In „Manipulation“, Sebastian Koch („The Lives of Others“) plays the shadowy PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind, an expert at weaving tall tales. (Picture no. 201)

In „Manipulation“, Sebastian Koch („The Lives of Others“) plays the shadowy PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind, who is an expert at weaving tall tales. His stories always come at just the right time: He sounds out the current mood in the country and unscrupulously combines facts to create new grist for the rumour mill. Wind is an ingenious inventor of stories and a ruthless manipulator. He is not even remotely interested in the truth. All that matters to him are stories. Klaus Maria Brandauer („Mephisto“, „Out of Africa“, „James Bond: Never Say Never Again“) plays a special agent in the Swiss anti-espionage unit. Truth and facts are sacred to him. He has dedicated his life to uncovering them. For 41 years, he has worked to defend Switzerland‘s natio-

nal security. He believes in democracy and the rule of law. Shortly before retirement, his final assignment brings him into contact with Harry Wind. This case turns his world upside down. Everything that he previously believed in turns out to be a delusion. With „Manipulation“, Swiss production company European Star Cinema has dealt with an explosive and highly topical issue, based on the cult novel „Das Verhör des Harry Wind“ by Walter Matthias Diggelmann. „This novel grabbed us right from the first page and never let us go,” says director Pascal Verdosci, who has wanted to film this material with Alex Martin since 1991. „Diggelmann would have greatly enjoyed this film,” says Diggelmann‘s longtime companion and the executor of his estate, Klara Obermüller: „When the novel was first published in 1962, many people believed that it was the product of a young author with an overblown imagination. Only very few readers at the time knew that the story was inspired by actual events.“ The film and the novel focus on the two biggest scandals

in post-war Swiss history: Switzerland‘s secret plans to build its own nuclear bomb and the clandestine surveillance of approximately ten percent of its population. Surprisingly enough, „neither scandal has ever been dealt with in a Swiss feature film,” says Martin, the producer, who also collaborated with Marion Reichert on the screenplay: „This film was long overdue!“

The two biggest scandals in post-war Swiss history The story is set in the late fifties, at the height of the Cold War. Swiss star reporter Werner Eiselin falls under suspicion after a shady PR consultant, Dr. Harry Wind, leaks compromising material to the federal police. There are photos showing Russian liaison officer Vladimir Ruchenko handing an envelope to Eiselin. This is sufficient to warrant the arrest of Eiselin, who works for Radio Beromünster as an expert on Russian affairs. He is suspected of being a communist agitator. From one day to the next, Eiselin goes from being a popular star reporter to a reviled enemy of the state. Despite his protestations of innocence, nobody believes Eiselin and his life takes a tragic turn. During the investigation, special agent Rappold is plagued by growing doubts: Why did Harry Wind give him these photos of Eiselin and Ruchenko? And why did he have them made in the first place? Are the photos perhaps faked? And, if true, what does Wind hope to achieve with them? Rappold raises the nagging question: Is he perhaps responsible for the death of an innocent man? Rappold orders Wind‘s arrest and launches a comprehensive investigation into the PR consultant‘s activities. But the further he delves, the more resistance he encounters – and an increasing number of inconsistencies come to light. His investigations lead him to the heart of a conspiracy that includes contrived enemies, political manipulation and secret plans to build a nuclear bomb. „At the time, the Swiss military wanted to acquire up to 200 nuclear warheads!“ Martin says of the Swiss government‘s plans, which sound strange indeed from today‘s perspective. „They

wanted to conduct the nuclear tests in the Gotthard Massif. Just imagine …“ The secret Swiss Study Commission on Atomic Energy (SKA), chaired by Swiss physicist Paul Scherrer, aimed to develop a Swiss nuclear bomb. The plans remained secret for 13 years and were not definitively dropped until 1988. „At a certain point in the film, Rappold realises that he has been thoroughly taken in by Wind,” explains co-author Marion Reichert: „Rappold realises that the credibility of information is more important than the truth.“ „The film, as well as the novel, deals first and foremost with the timeless theme of manipulating public opinion,” says Martin, the producer, as he touches upon the story‘s core issue. The film and the book show that untrue stories can be „truer“ than the truth, as long as they are deemed credible. „Diggelmann worked from 1958 to 1960 as a copywriter at Rudolf Farner‘s PR agency,” says Klara Obermüller. That‘s where he learned the latest methods in political public relations, which was a brand new field at the time, says Obermüller. She adds that Farner was a pioneer in the sector who brought American PR techniques to Switzerland and ran media campaigns aimed at influencing the outcome of referendums: „Diggelmann witnessed first-hand at the agency how the public‘s opinion was manipulated using orchestrated propaganda.“

Brandauer and Koch together for the first time on camera Klaus Maria Brandauer and Sebastian Koch, who appear on camera together for the first time in this Swiss production, were enthusiastic about the subject matter right from the start, but also very surprised that such secret campaigns have been conducted in neutral Switzerland. „I‘ve always seen Switzerland as a nice, neutral, small, gentle country of milk and honey“, says Koch, who was previously confronted with a police state in the Oscar-winning film „The Lives of Others“: „This is almost reminiscent of Stasi methods .... No, these are Stasi methods!“

Synopsis – the story at a glance

Special agent Rappold (Klaus Maria Brandauer) shows a compromising photo to a suspect (Urs Jucker). (Picture no. 106)

1956. The era of the Cold War. Swiss intelligence is conducting secret surveillance on ten percent of its own population. When a compromising photo exposes Swiss star reporter Werner Eiselin as a Soviet spy, he can’t take the pressure and commits suicide in the interrogation room. Special agent Urs Rappold (Klaus Maria Brandauer) from the anti-espionage unit is plagued by doubts: Were the photos genuine? And why did influential PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind (Sebastian Koch) have them made in the first place? In a relentless game of cat and mouse with the manipulative inventor of stories, Harry Wind, Rappold realises that he himself is part of a conspiracy...

During the Cold War, and up to the fall of the

„You don’t work for the intelligence services if you don’t have a clue about the darker sides of human nature.“ Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold. (Picture no. 107)

The film and the novel focus on the two biggest scandals in post-war Swiss history: Switzerland‘s secret plans to build its own nuclear bomb and the clandestine surveillance of approximately ten percent of its population. (Picture no. 501)

Berlin Wall in 1989, the Swiss domestic intelligence agency monitored over 600,000 of the country‘s inhabitants. When the scandal broke in 1990, it shook the entire country. „Large numbers of perfectly innocent people were placed under surveillance because there was something ‚suspicious‘ about them,” recalls Martin, the producer, who, along with other members of the crew, was also observed by the intelligence agency.“When we were 16 years old, we published a completely harmless youth magazine. That was enough for them to keep an eye on us. Other surveillance campaigns were not so harmless. Careers came to an end, families were torn apart, people found themselves blacklisted, dragged through the mud by the media and persecuted.“ Based on the fictive example of star reporter Werner Eiselin, „Manipulation“ tells one man‘s story during this period, packed in an exciting, imaginative and intelligently portrayed crime story. Klaus Maria Brandauer: „It may be a small Swiss story, but it concerns the entire world.“ *****

http://www.edition8.ch/autoren/harrywind.htm

(Picture no. 509)

(Picture no. 701)

In the 1960s and 70s, Walter Matthias Diggelmann was the most famous Swiss author besides Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Diggelmann’s books polarised and caused heated debates at regular intervals. At times, the controversial author could only publish outside of Switzerland.

Recommended reading: „Das Verhör des Harry Wind“ (in German), collected works, volume 3, Edition 8, Zurich 2002.

Mrs Eiselin (Rachel Hubacher) refuses to believe that her husband is guilty. Her husband, the star reporter Werner Eiselin, was arrested by the Swiss federal police based on a compromising photo.

Walter Matthias Diggelmann, novelist

Diggelmann’s most famous works include “Geschichten um Abel” (1960), “Das Verhör des Harry Wind” (1962), “Die Hinterlassenschaft” (1965) and “Filippinis Garten” (1978). “Das Verhör des Harry Wind” (The Interrogation of Harry Wind) explores the world of political public relations and mass manipulation. “Rarely have the cynical mechanisms of advertising been portrayed with such accuracy” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 5 July 2002). Walter Matthias Diggelmann was born on 5 July 1927 in Zurich († 29 November 1979). Biography: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Matthias_Diggelmann

Interview with Klaus Maria Brandauer:

„A Swiss history. For the World!“ The man who plays agent Rappold, actor Klaus Maria Brandauer (68), talks about his childhood in Basel, the risks facing democracy and the question of whether one learns from one‘s mistakes. Your father was born in Basel and served as a German customs official on the border at Basel, and you lived during four years of your childhood in the Basel region...

„I‘m going to find it – the motive!“ Klaus Maria Brandauer, star of Oscar-winning films „Mephisto“ and „Out of Africa,“ plays special agent Rappold, who is determined to get to the bottom of things in „Manipulation.“ (Picture no. 302)

(interrupting) I was stolen by my own parents in Altaussee in the Austrian state of Steiermark when I was six years old. My father came back after being interned as a prisoner of war. He suddenly appeared at the door and said: „I‘m your father!“ That was a shock. Until then, my grandfather had been my only family. Suddenly, we moved away, to Germany, and I now had not only a father but also a second grandfather... ... who was also a civil servant. In fact, he was the chief customs official at the Badischer Bahnhof railway station in Basel. Yes, I grew up with uniforms. We always moved wherever my father was assigned as a customs inspector. So before long I found myself living at the Grenzacher Hörnli border crossing near Basel. Initially, it was terrible. I missed my playmates, the towering Dachstein, capped with glaciers, the little lake and our cat, „Tigerl.“ A

“Paradeiser “ (in the Eastern part of Austria used for tomato) was suddenly called tomato, everything was simply horrible... I thought you felt at home here in the Basel region? That happened later. When I first visited my great aunt Mathilde in Basel, there were Toblerone chocolates and, of course, Mässmogge hazelnut praline sweets! I really loved all that so I gradually came to like the Hörnli and the customs office. On the other side of the border there was now a paradise, Switzerland, and this meant chocolate and other luxuries. It was that simple back then! Was this customs official, who you came to know as your father when you were a little boy, important for playing the role of special agent Rappold? Certainly, I am playing a civil servant for the first time in my life – not a customs official, but a policeman. I was around civil servants throughout my childhood. They saluted my father, which

A compromising photo apparently exposes a Swiss star reporter as a Soviet spy. Special Agent Urs Rappold (Klaus Maria Brandauer) of the anti-espionage unit is plagued by doubt: Are the photos genuine? And why did the influential PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind have the photos made in the first place? (Picture no. 109)

The death of star reporter Werner Eiselin (Markus Merz) turns the orderly world of special agent Rappold (Klaus Maria Brandauer) on its head. In a relentless game of cat and mouse with the manipulative inventor of stories, Harry Wind, Rappold realises that he himself is part of a conspiracy… (Picture no. 112)

The Swiss domestic intelligence agency is hoarding information in its archives on more than ten percent of the country‘s population. Special agent Rappold (Klaus Maria Brandauer) is searching with his colleague Romy Hartmann (Susanne Abelein) and federal police officer Koller (Douglas Thomas) for answers to unsolved questions. (Picture no. 105)

impressed me to no end. Some did not salute, which led me to suspect that my father also had superiors. „Manipulation“ is a political film. It‘s about mass manipulation and the small yet significant difference between truth and credibility. Is Klaus Maria Brandauer a political person? Of course I‘m a political person. I can become rather passionate about political issues. I believe that nobody can remain apolitical these days. Even claiming that you aren‘t interested in politics is indeed a highly political statement. You go from being an active player to a pawn, whether you want to or not. You cannot escape this – it doesn‘t get dark just because you‘ve closed your eyes. Thinking politically doesn‘t automatically mean that you are also a politician; that‘s not even necessary. I like to talk intensively about politics, even in interviews, if I think it‘s necessary. People say that I take a certain pleasure in expressing my opinions, and that‘s something I‘m fairly proud of!

„I believe that nobody can remain apolitical these days. Even claiming that you aren’t interested in politics is indeed a highly political statement.“

manipulation if certain issues are repeatedly addressed at the expense of others that are swept under the carpet, for whatever reason. You have to develop a healthy scepticism – and it‘s always helpful to ask the old question „Qui bono?“ In „Manipulation“ agent Rappold is determined to get to the bottom of things, but he is thoroughly taken in by the shadowy PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind… (interrupting) Well, Rappold is no Percival. You don‘t work for the intelligence services if you don‘t have a clue about the darker sides of human nature. Rappold has to constantly expect that he will be taken in by someone. After being led up the garden path by Harry Wind, Rappold commits the mistake of his life and becomes responsible for the death of star reporter Werner Eiselin. How does Rappold deal with this? As a member of the Swiss federal police, Rappold is an ardent supporter of the democratic system and a defender of his country‘s constitution. He failed to check the false information that he received from the highest level. Why? Quite simply, because he trusts his system. This is a tragic mistake with serious consequences, also for him. Indeed, Rappold is actually a man who, in addition to keeping a small herd of cows in the Bernese Oberland, would like nothing more than to live in a very quaint place with his wife. But that‘s not how things work out…

The film shows how concocted stories can be used to legitimise unpopular actions such as acquiring nuclear weapons and spending money on arms. Can we give credence to any of the information that we receive these days?

Driven by a sense of guilt, special agent Rappold is determined to find out what is behind the Eiselin affair and why the reporter had to die. But he doesn‘t like what he finds?

It‘s amazing to see how certain political processes prompt a wide range of comments from various sides. But this is another case of the image being formed in the eye of the beholder. As a result, these differences alone are not particularly dramatic. But when they are used to develop campaigns, it‘s definitely a problem, in my opinion. And, of course, it‘s definitely

Rappold has to realise that his standards don‘t apply to everyone, perhaps not even to himself. Truth is the first casualty of war, even during the Cold War. This is a very sobering realisation for him. He might be able to come to terms with the fact that he is simply a cog in the machine, but being at the mercy of foreign interests that are so contrary to his own is quite a different

matter. The film is set in the Cold War. It‘s all about espionage and false but credible information. Is this story still relevant today? Today, we have reached the so-called information age – the most manipulative period of our existence. With such an excess of information, it‘s incredibly easy to plant so many trees that – with so many trees, arguments and images out there – you can‘t see the woods for the trees. This makes it impossible for people to vote in a democracy these days because the actual choices are no longer recognisable. It is extremely important that we fight for democracy – virtually every second of every day. Indeed, it‘s not enough to vote – and four years later return to the polls. No, democracy is an obligation that we all share. Democracy is not something that we get on a silver platter. We have to struggle to achieve it every single day. We have to keep a close eye on people: both elected officials and the electorate. We have to monitor people in positions of authority – and those who follow their orders. And most of all: we have to keep an eye on ourselves. Should the film „Manipulation“ be seen as a political appeal? As long as we stick to reasoning, in our language and dialogues, we won‘t go around beating each other over the head. That‘s what films are for – they serve as a means of communication. I‘m all for them, any day of the week. Even a James Bond film or any entertainment film is fine with me. But there should also be films that delve a little deeper into the possibilities for human society to take a wrong turn. Every film of course has to be entertaining, however. Otherwise, it‘s better to convey this information at universities or from high up on the pulpit, although a bit of entertainment wouldn‘t hurt there, either! Is Klaus Maria Brandauer, as an individual, immune to manipulation? Of course you can also manipulate me. That‘s a big concern of mine. What I increasingly do

these days – I used to feel embarrassed about it – is ask the following questions: „Are you really being honest? Do you really care for me? It practically sounds like you love me – it just can‘t be true. Is there any basis for it at all?“ I‘ll say it again: It boils down to maintaining a dialogue. I admit that I‘d rather be with people who entertain me than with people who are boring. As a result, perfectly upright individuals are occasionally – unfortunately – not accorded much importance in my private life. And no matter how honest they may be, they are simply boring to me. You would rather be around dishonest people? I often prefer to be together with people who have an incredible knack for entertaining me. Unfortunately, I know perfectly well that they would sell me for a song, that they lie to me and that their stories are nothing but hot air. This is perhaps a big personality flaw, but perhaps not, and many people have this flaw!

„Today, we have reached the most manipulative period of our existence.“ Throughout the millennia, new crimes are committed and new scandals erupt. People write about them and make films about them, such as here with „Manipulation“. Do you think people learn from history? If you look at the history of mankind, which is both fascinating and horrifying at the same time, you‘ll see that errors are constantly repeated. It‘s the same story over and over again. Who would have ever believed that a thousand kilometres from here, in Kosovo, we would witness yet another genocide?! This illustrates that we, as human beings – and I say this here very reluctantly – are basically a failed experiment – a failed experiment by Mother Nature. I say this very reluctantly because, following much reflection, I have again found sympathy with the

notion that there is, after all, a benevolent God out there. Are you a person who learns from his mistakes? There is so much about my father – who I really loved – that I couldn‘t stand. Today, when I look at myself in the mirror, I say: „Good morning, Dad. Hello, how are you today?“ I look roughly the way he did. This would annoy my mother if she heard this now: „No, you actually look like me!“ „Of course, Mum, I also look like you. But I have a bit more from Dad.“ And there‘s nothing judgemental about this. In addition to my father‘s mistakes, I‘ve added a few of my own. So I‘d say that I‘m actually worse than he was. But there are also a few good qualities... What expectations do you have for „Manipulation“? Of course I hope that this film will be a big success. However, I say this in all humility. We have no influence on this and we‘ll just have to see what happens. But, in all modesty, I hope that we‘ll have large audiences! The issue that it deals with alone makes this film a must-see. It may be a small Swiss story, but it concerns the entire world.

Klaus Maria Brandauer, actor

(Picture no. 301)

Klaus Maria Brandauer is one of the few German-speaking actors to have succeeded in Hollywood. His success in the Oscar-winning film “Mephisto” opened the door for his international career. Brandauer received an Oscar nomination and the Golden Globe for his portrayal of Baron von Blixen in Sydney Pollack’s “Out of Africa”. He became more well-known to international audiences with his role as villain Maximillian Largo in the James Bond thriller “Never Say Never Again”. Brandauer has acted in numerous international films, including “The Russia House”, “White Fang”, “Burning Secret”, “Rembrandt” and “La révolution française”. He starred in Hungarian director István Szabó’s signature film trilogy consisting of “Mephisto”, “Colonel Redl” and “Hanussen”. Braundauer has won countless national and international awards for his extensive and outstanding work in film and theatre. Klaus Maria Brandauer was born on 22 June 1943 in Altaussee in Austria. Filmography: http://www.imdb.de/name/nm0001970

Interview with Sebastian Koch:

“Life is a big game!” Sebastian Koch (49), who plays Harry Wind, talks about manipulation as a sport and why Switzerland’s image is unshakeable You grew up in Stuttgart, not far from the Swiss border. Did you know Switzerland as a child? As a native of southern Germany, I feel a natural kinship with the Swiss. Even the language is not so different. My mother had a close friend from Switzerland, so I am very familiar with the Swiss German dialect. So you understood more than just “Grüezi”?

„I can bring the atomic bomb just as easily to Switzerland as a garden gnome to America.“ In „Manipulation“, Sebastian Koch, who stars in the Oscar-winning film „The Lives of Others“, plays the shadowy PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind. (Picture no. 403)

Yes, of course. (mimics Swiss dialect) “Häsch dini Ovo hüt scho gha?” (laughs) We also went on holiday to Sent in the Engadine. It was fantastic. Seeing the mountain goats, nature, and especially the mountains – Gianome the mountain guide was my friend. There are no mountains where I come from in Swabia. One low mountain range, but that’s it. When did you first hear about the “darker side” of Switzerland? What darker side...? The fact that Switzerland wanted its own atomic bomb?

(laughs) Well, now that you’ve broached the subject... (clears throat) Actually not until our film on this issue. I‘ve always seen Switzerland as a nice, neutral, small, gentle country of milk and honey. Its image may have deteriorated a bit because of all the financial scandals, but Switzerland always manages to maintain its reputation as a healthy, neutral nation. Is Switzerland’s image so robust that it cannot be tarnished, despite all the scandals? In my view: Yes, it is. Switzerland’s positive image has tremendous power. Switzerland as a country that secretly wanted nuclear weapons: so you’re saying the story is not really believable? If you don’t really look into the issue, then you won’t believe it. I actually think that Switzerland’s strong reputation can whitewash that. People say to themselves: Such a small country, with a nuclear bomb? No way! The other major scandal addressed in “Manipulation” is the Secret Files Scandal. How did you react when you learned that Swiss intelligence was conducting secret surveillance on ten percent of its own population?

„Details are important.“ While in custody, manipulative PR consultant and story spinner Dr. Harry Wind (Sebastian Koch) writes his life history, thus jeopardising the entire Swiss establishment.

I was very surprised at that. Also that it was so pervasive. It is almost reminiscent of Stasi methods .... No, these are Stasi methods! It’s not at all what you would expect from neutral Switzerland. It couldn’t possibly be true!

(Picture no. 203)

After starring in “The Lives of Others”, you again play in a film about a police state. Those were two fundamentally different roles. In “The Lives of Others”, I portrayed a playwright who tries to come to terms with the regime. And in “Manipulation” I play Harry Wind... And Harry Wind is the regime! Harry Wind uses the regime, he plays with it. He is a gambler. For Harry Wind, life is a big game. Of course it’s a dream role for any actor.

„It doesn‘t make any difference to Harry Wind if the stakes are one franc or a billion.“The shadowy PR consultant Harry Wind (Sebastian Koch) is unscrupulous and willing to take on any challenge. He sees manipulation as a sport. (Picture no. 202)

„Harry Wind is a chess player who pulls the strings in the background.“ Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Harry Wind, a successful weaver of lies. (Picture no. 207)

“He enjoys watching others fall into his traps” When the police ask Harry Wind about his profession, he answers: “I tinker with this and that...” Harry Wind plays with people. He has refined this game to new heights of perfection. That’s what makes this character so exciting. Like a chess player, he’s always five to seven moves ahead of everyone else. He anticipates other peoples’ reactions. He’s a man who pulls the strings in the background. He doesn’t need to be president or even chancellor. All he wants is his office and his work. He enjoys watching others fall into his traps. And he takes pleasure in seeing someone laugh because he makes him laugh. And someone cry because he makes him cry. With Harry Wind, it’s all about details. He even thinks it’s important that the fabric of his mother’s apron was transparent. Why? Harry Wind lives in stories he created himself, and confuses that with real life. Details are so important to someone like that because they are the very fabric of his life. And every detail

could be important for inventing a new story. He develops one universe after another, combines them into an even larger cosmos, and at some point can no longer keep track of everything. But that is also the appeal for him. When will the house of cards collapse? How far can he push it? In one scene, Harry Wind says, „I can bring the atomic bomb just as easily to Switzerland as a garden gnome to America.“ Does Harry Wind know no morals? Harry has no morals. But he is a good salesman. It doesn‘t make any difference to Harry Wind if the stakes are one franc or a billion. He has no fear. Which is why he is also able to play for such high stakes. And whether it’s about atomic bombs or garden gnomes is completely beside the point. All that counts is having fun playing the game. Is manipulation a means to an end for Harry Wind, or is it the manipulation itself which interests him? It’s all about the game itself for him. Not even about winning. He can also fail spectacularly. Then he just stands there like Anthony Quinn in “Zorba the Greek” and says “Hey boss, did you ever see a more splendiferous crash?” Manipulation as a sport then? Absolutely. The problem though is the intense loneliness. Harry Wind does not connect with other people, he plays with them. There’s only enough room for him on the ice floe, but the ice is melting. He knows he’s bound to sink and die a lonely death. Is it fun for PR consultant Wind to be so unbelievably superior to everyone else? It’s the only fun left to such a lonely person. Being good, always better than the rest – he doesn’t have any other options. But the better he becomes, the more isolated he is; nothing real is within reach. Harry Wind manipulates special agent Rap-

pold good and proper. Does he empathise with people whom he manipulates? I believe he does. Empathy is part of the game. A good player also has empathy. It’s a self-contained world. If he didn’t empathise, he would just be mean. And Harry Wind is not mean. He simply sets something up and the target falls for it straight away. A good player mourns his victims.

mation? Or would he think it’s just a story to achieve some purpose? For instance, to play the countries of the Middle East against one another in a “divide and conquer” approach? Of course. The only certain thing anymore is that it’s become impossible to find the truth. And that is after all Harry Wind’s lifeblood. Everything today can be constantly changed and is therefore no longer real.

Does the truth exist for you? Truths – plural. Truth is always subjective. Everyone has a different perception. That said, I think that a “crux of the matter” exists, a kind of overarching truth. But it’s completely pointless to talk about it. It’s just my personal feeling about our existence here on this planet.

Sebastian Koch, actor

But does he give up the game because of it? No. And anyway they are only crocodile tears. It’s all a game (laughs). When Harry Wind tells the truth, no one believes him. When he lies, everyone believes him. Is that his destiny? No one wants to hear the truth. It’s too painful. Our idealised image of the family would shatter, and maybe even neutral Switzerland along with it. Naturally young Harry is shocked when his own mother tells him that no one is interested in the truth, so please lie! That is a key moment in the story and a powerful metaphor. Harry takes it very seriously. As a result, he builds his entire life around a web of lies and becomes an inventor of stories. At least people finally take him seriously then. “Manipulation” is set in the fifties. Is this story still relevant today? Very relevant in fact. Good subject material is timeless. What happens here between Harry Wind and Rappold could easily happen again, in any corner of the world. Harry Wind would be a big fan of WikiLeaks and the whole Internet orgy. It would be an enormous pleasure for him. That’s what hits so close to home about Harry Wind: we simply don’t know where the truth lies anymore. As a society, we are definitely heading towards a point where WikiLeaks is almost a moral authority, or morality itself, because you can no longer lie – it would immediately be public. Harry Wind would have enjoyed that... Would Harry Wind consider that real infor-

“No one wants to hear the truth. It’s too painful.” (Picture no. 406)

The Iraq War was legitimised by modern Harry Winds who invented the story of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. That is a disgrace. Those kinds of people ruin our world. I participate in this kind of game as an actor and find it brilliant and appealing, and I even talk as if it were. But from an outside perspective, it is of course deplorable. Do you believe that people prefer hearing a convenient lie over an inconvenient truth? Most people, yes. Not me. You can sense when someone is not telling the truth. And then I have a hard time joining this stupid, conventional game, pretending as if everything were just great. I can fake it to a certain extent. But I don’t like to and do it as seldom as possible – in cases of dire emergency only. (grins) But why is the lie more convenient than the truth? You have to actively deal with the truth. But not usually with a lie. A lie is always more convenient. There is always something about the truth which cries out for change. Which is why it hurts after all. I had to head in a new direction. I had to re-invent myself, break new ground. Lying keeps you in an old rut – one that only seems to be more convenient.

Sebastian Koch is one of the most soughtafter actors in Germany. He has delivered brilliant performances as a character actor in numerous German TV highlights, including Klaus Mann in the three-part historical drama “The Manns”, Richard Oetker in the two-part series “Tanz mit dem Teufel”, Colonel Stauffenberg in “Stauffenberg”, Albert Speer in the three-part series “Speer und Er” and Wolf Larsen in the two-part miniseries “Der Seewolf”. Following his success in the Oscar-winning motion picture “The Lives of Others”, Koch has also played in international Hollywood productions, including “Unknown” with Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger. Koch was nominated for an International Emmy Award for his performance in “Der Seewolf”. He has won numerous national and international awards, including several Grimme Awards, for his extensive and impressive film work. Sebastian Koch was born on 31 May 1962 in Karlsruhe, Germany. Filmography: http://www.imdb.de/name/nm0462407

Production notes:

“A dream come true!” Why the two Swiss filmmakers Alex Martin (44) and Pascal Verdosci (44) made “Manipulation” Producer Alex Martin and director Pascal Verdosci first thought of filming the cult novel “Das Verhör des Harry Wind” by Walter Matthias Diggelmann in 1991. “This novel grabbed us right from the first page and never let us go,” says director Pascal Verdosci. “The novel is fascinating, exciting and unbelievably relevant,” adds Alex Martin, who also wrote the screenplay together with Marion Reichert.

On 6 January 2008 – Epiphany – filming started outside the swanky Les Trois Rois hotel. Director Pascal Verdosci (right) and Sebastian Koch (left) discuss a key scene in which Harry Wind is secretly filmed in front of the Les Trois Rois luxury hotel as he meets with Russian liaison officer Vladimir Ruchenko. (Picture no. 601)

Once Martin’s production company European Star Cinema obtained the film rights to the novel, a difficult process began. The story in the novel tells about the life of inventor of stories Dr. Harry Wind over the course of several decades. It is a fascinating biography, but cannot be financed for a Swiss production in this form. Several attempts were made to reduce the stories and subplots. But after two years, the two 25-year-olds at the time gave up and went their own ways. Many years later in 2002, Alex Martin had an “epiphany” one morning while jogging. He transformed Rappold, a minor character in the novel, into the protagonist of the film. By concentrating the entire story on a single criminal case and an interrogation, “all at once, our financial and narrative problems were solved,” notes Martin. He further explains that the film needed a figure with strong dramatic potential:

“We needed a character who is suddenly confronted with a huge problem and undergoes drastic change.” The ideal character for this was the investigating Inspector Rappold, who plays a secondary role in the novel. “In his last case before retirement, he encounters the worst nightmare of his entire life”, explains co-screenwriter Marion Reichert. “His system of values is turned upside down. Good is bad and bad is good. Rappold recognises that he is no longer the player, but a pawn in Harry Wind’s game. That’s what’s tragic about Rappold really. At the end of his career, he realises that everything was pointless. A human tragedy.” “Walter Matthias Diggelmann would have liked this adaptation of his novel,” remarks Klara Obermüller, Diggelmann’s companion for many years and administrator of his estate. “He himself often adapted novels for television and was very familiar with the requirements of the various formats.” Interestingly, Alex Martin and Marion Reichert already had Klaus Maria Brandauer and Sebastian Koch in mind while writing the screenplay. “It’s just easier to write when you can imagine a face for a character,” explains Martin. “Of course at this point in time we could hardly dream that the two actors would actually agree

to take part.”

Alex Martin, producer, writer, editor

(Picture no. 702)

Alex Martin is a film producer, screenwriter and editor from Switzerland. Before entering the film world as a producer, he worked as a journalist and later as a marketing and PR consultant with his own agency. This job gave him tremendous insight into the mechanisms and effects of political public relations. His clients included companies and organisations from Switzerland and abroad. As a screenwriter, Martin collaborated with Pascal Verdosci to write the original story for the first Swiss “Tatort” (Crime Scene) show, a long-running television crime series. The 1990 premiere entitled “Howalds Fall” caused a scandal: the supposed new police inspector was also the perpetrator who abused his own daughter. Martin also wrote screenplays with co-screenwriter Marion Reichert for German television, including “Tatort” and various dramas for German public broadcaster ZDF. Today, Martin is Managing Director of the Swiss production company European Star Cinema in Basel. Alex Martin was born on 3 July 1967 in Biel, Switzerland. Filmography: http://www.imdb.de/name/nm0551882

“Brandauer and Koch in mind” But one day, the red light on Martin’s answering machine was blinking. When he and Marion Reichert listened to the message, it took their breath away. A familiar voice said: “This is Klaus Maria Brandauer. I’ve read the screenplay and it’s fantastic. I want to do it.”When their second dream actor Sebastian Koch also confirmed his participation, they were euphoric. Martin says: “I‘ve always wanted to work together with actors of this calibre. Their agreeing to play in the movie was a wonderful confirmation of our work.”

minal sources were brought together to evoke the charm of the 1950s. Production designer Toni Lüdi (“Der Bär”), art director Tom Martin and property master Franzl Bauer (“The Tin Drum”) did a fantastic job of recreating the dry bureaucratic world in which much of “Manipulation” takes place, including offices, interrogation rooms, police records departments, hallways, archives and cells. “When I saw it, I thought it was perfect for the plot,” explains Sebastian Koch. “Harry Wind quickly builds himself an office in a supermarket to pull this thing off. Afterwards it is dismantled and then printers are sold there again. It just fit perfectly. It seemed like a part of the story.”

(Picture no. 703)

Klara Obermüller is likewise very pleased with the choice of the two actors, mentioning that they are just how she imagined the characters when reading the novel. “It is very nice when things turn out like this,” she observes.

“Harry Wind quickly builds himself an office in a supermarket...”

From then on, the film project was on a roll. The successful casting of the two stars made the project concrete. Generous support was received from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Baselland, and private investors Matthias Eckenstein, Samuel Falk, Monica Vögele and Nick Mijnssen. The celebrity stars also opened up many sponsorship doors. Numerous companies from the region of Basel and Lörrach pitched in to support the ambitious project. Grand hotel Les Trois Rois furnished suites, Gasthaus zum Kranz provided catering for the entire crew and real estate agency Heuer + Heuer allowed them free use of a 1,000-square metre hall as a film studio for several months. Numerous companies and individuals also made contributions. “You could sense that people here really wanted to help this film,” explains co-producer Philipp Rapold. “The Basel area was an excellent location for this production.”

Filming began on 6 January 2008 in front of the grand hotel Les Trois Rois – on the Epiphany holiday, aptly enough. A key scene was shot: One year after the unexplained death of Werner Eiselin, otherwise shrewd Harry Wind makes a big mistake. He is secretly filmed in front of the luxury hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel while meeting with Russian liaison officer Vladimir Ruchenko. Informant Wind himself is then suddenly thrust into the spotlight of intelligence investigations. Main filming lasted only three weeks, after which second unit teams spent another two weeks shooting exteriors and details.

The anti-espionage unit of the Swiss federal police was then recreated in an empty hall of a shopping centre in Lörrach in summer 2007. In a space of more than 1,000 square metres, thousands of original props from police and cri-

Pascal Verdosci, director

This was followed by a nearly two-and-a-halfyear post-production phase, characterised by a number of setbacks, drawn-out discussions, exhausting arguments and the uphill struggle to find the right form. “We didn’t make things easy for ourselves,” recalls Alex Martin. “We experimented with several cuts and indulged in the luxury of hiring multiple composers for the music.” In addition to Swiss composer Peter Philippe Weiss, Golden Globe winner Burkhard Dallwitz (“The Truman Show”) also contributed to the film. “The two did great work – but these

Pascal Verdosci is a director and screenplay writer from Switzerland. After writing various screenplays for Swiss and German television feature films, in 2005 he produced his first movie “Anjas Engel”, for which he also wrote the screenplay. “Manipulation” was followed by his first co-production entitled “The Hour of Living” with Sebastian Michael, which he co-produced with his production company Falling Rocks Filmworks AG. Pascal Verdosci is also involved in training; on behalf of FOCAL, the Foundation for Professional Training in Cinema and Audiovisual Media, he contributed to Slawomir Idziak’s “Film Spring” series of seminars as well as to Denis Rabaglia’s international film workshop “Production Value”, an advanced training session for line producers and assistant directors in Europe. Pascal Verdosci was born on 15 June 1967 in Fribourg, Switzerland and holds dual Swiss-Italian citizenship.

Filmography: http://www.realisateurs.ch/de/user/pascalverdosci

„I‘ve always wanted to work together with actors of this calibre.“ Producer, screenplay co-writer and editor Alex Martin (left) with „Manipulation“ star Klaus Maria Brandauer (centre) and co-producer Philip Rapold (right). (Picture no. 605)

Director Pascal Verdosci talks with Thomas Douglas, who plays officer Koller, and Susanne Abelein, who plays agent Hartmann. In a storage space measuring 1,000 square metres, a wealth of original props was collected from law enforcement sources to evoke the charm of the fifties. (Picture no. 603)

things take time.” When “Manipulation” premiered on 20 January 2011 at the Solothurn Film Festival, the filmmakers’ longstanding dream of a movie adaptation of the novel was finally fulfilled. “During these twenty years, we experienced the Gulf War with its invented weapons of mass destruction and the core meltdown of lies revealed by WikiLeaks,” says Martin. “The subject material has not suffered from the long wait. Just the opposite in fact: The theme of the film is becoming more relevant every day...”

Philipp Rapold, Matthias Eckenstein, co-producers

(Picture no. 704)

Philipp Rapold (left in photo) is a film producer from Switzerland. Following in the footsteps of his cousins, actors Martin and Patrick Rapold, he is the third member of the Rapold family to work in the Swiss film industry. Rapold is a member of management of the European Star Cinema production company and is Managing Director of the Filmfonds.ch GmbH financing and distribution company. Philipp Rapold was born on 16 June 1967 in Aarau, Switzerland. *****

„This novel grabbed us right from the first page and never let us go.“ Director Pascal Verdosci (right) discusses a scene with actor Klaus Maria Brandauer, who plays Rappold. (Picture no. 602)

Matthias Eckenstein (right in photo) is an architect, businessman, film investor and patron of the arts from the Basel region. He has been involved in film projects with Klaus Maria Brandauer in addition to the Arthur Cohn movie “The Yellow Handkerchief” starring William Hurt, Maria Bello and Kristen Stewart, among other ventures. Eckenstein has financed countless projects in the areas of culture and recreation, including the new monkey house at the Basel Zoo.

CAST

at a glance:

Klaus Maria Brandauer..................................................................................... as Urs Rappold Sebastian Koch....................................................................................................... as Harry Wind Thomas Douglas.......................................................................... as Federal Police Officer Koller Susanne Abelein............................................................................................ as Romy Hartmann Markus Merz...................................................................................................... as Werner Eiselin Peter Schröder......................................................................... as Federal Police Chief Wagner Vincent Leittersdorf................................................................................. as Commander Kurz Chantal Le Moign........................................................................... as Federal Prosecutor Steiner Urs Jucker.............................................................................................................. as Vital Berger Rahel Hubacher.................................................................................................... as Miss Eiselin Martin Hug................................................................................................. as Police Officer Zaugg Hans-Rudolf Twerenbold............................................................................... as Police Doctor Oliver Bürgin............................................................................................ as Police Photographer Guest Starring: Helmut Förnbacher.................................... as Corps Commander Sturzenegger

In memory of Franz Bauer † Genre: Political thriller Heartfelt thanks are due to our deceased property master and Bavarian “salt of the

Length: 90 Min. Swiss Release: February 2011 World Release: Autumn/Winter 2011/2012

earth” Franz Bauer. “Manipulation” was his

Cast: Klaus Maria Brandauer, Sebastian Koch

last motion picture, and he dedicated his

A Film by: Alex Martin

full energy to the project. We all remem-

Directed by: Pascal Verdosci

Written by: Alex Martin, Marion Reichert

ber him fondly. He made us laugh with his

Produced by: Alex Martin

lightheartedness and won our hearts with

Co-Producer: Philipp Rapold, Matthias Eckenstein

his warmth. Thank you, Franzl, it was an

Production: European Star Cinema World Rights: Filmfonds.ch / Aspect Films

honour working with you!

CREW

A Film by...................................................................................................................... ALEX MARTIN Directed by.......................................................................................................... PASCAL VERDOSCI Written by................................................................................. ALEX MARTIN / MARION REICHERT Based on the Novel „The Interrogation of Harry Wind“ by.......... WALTER MATTHIAS DIGGELMANN Director of Photography.............................................................................. KRZYSZTOF PTAK P.S.C. Production Designer............................................................................................................TONI LÜDI Art Director.....................................................................................................................TOM MARTIN Casting............................................................................................................... MARION REICHERT Music Composed by.......................................... PETER PHILIPPE WEISS / BURKHARD DALLWITZ Sound......................................................................................................THE SPACEBOYS AGENCY Costume Designer............................................................................................ TANJA LIEBERMANN Make-up Supervisor.................................................................................................... YARA RAPOLD Edited by....................................................................................................................... ALEX MARTIN Post-Production Supervisor................................................................... RENATA STACHURA PORAY Production Manager...................................................................................................INGO BEHRING Associate Producers...................................... SAMUEL FALK, MONICA VÖGELE, NICK MIJNSSEN Co-Producer............................................................... PHILIPP RAPOLD / MATTHIAS ECKENSTEIN Produced by................................................................................................ Produzent ALEX MARTIN

PRODUCTION companies

PRODUKTIONSFIRMEN

switzerland:.......................... EUROPEAN STAR CINEMA / Sunvision Filmatelier Basel Switzerland:....................................................................................................... Filmfonds.ch germany:........................................................................... Sunvision Filmatelier Lörrach

in association with

In Zusammenarbeit mit

switzerland:.......:...................................................... Ascot Elite Entertainment Group germany:................................................................................................................ Behring Film USA:.............................................................................................................. Poray Imageworks AUSTRIA:.......................................................................................................... Native Solutions switzerland:......................................................................................The Spaceboys Agency

VERLE 28

These and other press photos are available at: www.manipulationmovie.com/presse/en.html

Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 101)

Special agent Rappold with Dr. Harry Wind (Sebastian Koch) Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 102)

Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold Photo: Krzysztof Ptak / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 109)

Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 110)

Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 103)

Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 104)

Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 111)

Rappold and Koller and the dead Eiselin (Markus Merz) Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 112)

Rappold with his colleagues Hartmann and Koller Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 105)

Rappold shows Ruchenko (Urs Jucker) a photo Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 106)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Pino Covino / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 201)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 202)

Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 107)

Klaus Maria Brandauer as special agent Rappold Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 108)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Krzysztof Ptak / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 203)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 204)

These and other press photos are available at: www.manipulationmovie.com/presse/en.html

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 205)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 206)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli meadow Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 301)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli meadow Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 302)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 207)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 208)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli meadow Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 303)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli meadow Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 304)

PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind with business partners Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 209)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 210)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the way to Rütli meadow Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 305)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli meadow Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 306)

Dr. Harry Wind (Sebastian Koch) with special agent Rappold Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 211)

Sebastian Koch as PR consultant Dr. Harry Wind Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 212)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the film set Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 307)

Klaus Maria Brandauer at the Les Trois Rois luxury hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 308)

These and other press photos are available at: www.manipulationmovie.com/presse/en.html

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 309)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 310)

Sebastian Koch at the Les Trois Rois luxury hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 404)

Sebastian Koch in a Porsche from the 1950s Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 405) Sebastian Koch at the Les Trois Rois luxury hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 407)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 311)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 312)

Klaus Maria Brandauer on the Rütli Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 313)

Sebastian Koch at the Les Trois Rois luxury hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 401)

Sebastian Koch at the Les Trois Rois luxury hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 402)

Sebastian Koch at the Les Trois Rois luxury hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 403)

Sebastian Koch at the Les Trois Rois luxury hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 406)

Sebastian Koch at the Les Trois Rois hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema Cinema (Picture no. 408)

Sebastian Koch at the Les Trois Rois hotel Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 409)

Sebastian Koch in a Porsche from the 1950s. Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 410)

These and other press photos are available at: www.manipulationmovie.com/presse/en.html

Switzerland and the Cold War Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 501)

Switzerland and the Cold War Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 502)

Rahel Hubacher as Mrs Eiselin Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 509)

Photographers at the press conference Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 510)

Switzerland and the Cold War Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 503)

Secret tape recordings Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 504)

Urs Jucker as liaison officer Vladimir Ruchenko Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 511)

Press conference of the federal prosecutor Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 512)

Helmut Fรถrnbacher as Lieutenant General Sturzenegger Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 505)

Markus Merz as star reporter Werner Eiselin Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 506)

Even the good old radio plays a role in the film Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 513)

Chantal Le Moign as Federal Prosecutor Steiner Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 514)

Susanne Abelein as federal police officer Hartmann Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 507)

Thomas Douglas as federal police officer Koller Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 508)

Vincent Leittersdorf as Commander Kurz Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 515)

Peter Schrรถder as Federal Police Chief Wagner Photo: Filmbild / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 516)

These and other press photos are available at: www.manipulationmovie.com/presse/en.html

A private conversation among powerful key players Photo: Krzysztof Ptak / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 517)

Files from the archives of the domestic intelligence agency Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 518)

Attention: Action! Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema Cinema (Picture no. 606)

Attention: Action! Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 607)

Producer, writer and editor Alex Martin Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 702)

Files from the archives of the domestic intelligence agency Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 519)

Sebastian Koch with director Pascal Verdosci Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 601)

Klaus Maria Brandauer with director Pascal Verdosci Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 602)

Pascal Verdosci with Thomas Douglas and Susanne Abelein Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 603)

Novelist Walter Matthias Diggelmann Photo: zVg (Picture no. 701)

Klaus Maria Brandauer with colleagues and crew Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 604)

Alex Martin, Klaus Maria Brandauer and Philip Rapold on the R端tli Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 605)

Director Verdosci Pascal Photo: zVg (Picture no. 703)

The dead Eiselin Photo: Ingo Behring / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 608)

Co-producers Philipp Rapold and Matthias Eckenstein Photo: Peter Hauck / European Star Cinema (Picture no. 704)

Press Dossier / issued August, 2011 / publisher & editor: European Star Cinema / Sunvision Filmatelier