Switzerland remains one of the richest countries in the world. But there are cracks in its foundation, maintains director Jan-Eric Mack.

“During the pandemic, we started to see people queuing for food. It was an unusual sight in Switzerland, where you don’t see so much poverty on the streets. But these numbers are increasing,” he says.

“People don’t talk about it, but a lot of them are affected. Especially single mothers.”

In “A Happy Family,” the first Swiss film screened in the Crystal Globe competition at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Niki (Anna Schinz) works full time to support her two children.

One day, when she is away again, they accidentally set fire to the kitchen and the authorities place them with a foster family in another city. Niki is not allowed to contact or see her children, but she cannot stay away.

Also starring are Michael Neuenschwander, Julia Jentsch, Alireza Bayram, Bettina Stucky and Martina Apostolova. Sold by Bendita Film Sales and produced by C-Films AG.

“Women [like Niki] Feeling invisible in this society. “There is a lot of injustice in the system and that is what we wanted to show.”

Still, “A Happy Family” is not your usual social realist drama, and Mack likes it that way.

“We decided to tell this story strictly from her perspective, and her desire to be close to her children leads to very unusual situations. There is a lot of grotesque humor here.”

Especially since Niki is willing to do whatever it takes.

“During our research, we learned that parents go to extremes when they take their children. We understand this, but we also understand that she puts them in a loyalty conflict, which makes her a very ambivalent character.”

As Niki’s actions take a strange turn, so does the film, which adopts suspense elements.

“When you bring up this topic, it seems like a normal social drama. I loved playing with those expectations. She has to put everything on the line, which immediately creates tension,” Mack notes.

However, I was still trying to understand “both sides” of the conflict.

“For me, this title is very dialectical. A ‘happy family’ doesn’t really exist, it’s a dream. Every family has its ups and downs. The authorities have to make difficult decisions in these cases. It’s not about blaming anyone, because they are also trying to protect the children and they are doing their job.”

And he adds: “In my short film ‘In Front of Mecca’ [about a Syrian refugee trying to bury his wife according to Islamic traditions] I also talked about complex social issues. “I’m really interested in them as a political human being.”

He still believes in people, he says, and the good in them.

“Sometimes it’s about doing the right thing, but I didn’t want to make moral judgments. I like that you can’t decide which side you’re on.” [in ‘A Happy Family’]. You may ask yourself: What would I do in this situation? “Who is wrong and who is right?”

So what he do?

“I would take my car and go there. Just like she does.”