Steinauer Nebraska

Steinauer Nebraska – Cycles of Gain and Loss

Switzerland, October 1997
FILM, Documentary, 70 min.

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directed by
Karl Saurer
Written by
Karl Saurer
Status
In distribution

A story of migration, settlement, banishment… the rise and fall of three Swiss brothers emigrated to the United States who gave their name to Steinauer, Nebraska. What on the surface seems to be a success story, on closer examination reveals the complexity of the historical process of “homesteading”, and its corollary home-losing. The story of the rise of the white settler is put into context here with the story of the fall of the land’s original inhabitants, the American Indian. In fact however, the prosperity of many white settlers was short-lived. Many descendants of city founders were unable to eke out a living, despite their large landholdings. Before long the land that was once worshipped as “Mother Earth”, and exploited until barren, once again is covered with its original prairie grass.

credits

World Premiere
October 1997
Original Version
English, Swiss-German, German (german subtitles),  colour and b/w, 16mm, 70 min.
Production
Karl Saurer, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen
Producer
directed by
Karl Saurer
Written by
Karl Saurer (in collaboration with Elena M. Fischli)
Cinemato­graphy
Rolf Rosenberg, Hansueli Schenkel, John Spence
Editing
Bernhard Lehner
Music
Frank Steinauer
Location Sound Mix
Martin Koerber, Ronny Tanner

World Sales / World Rights

World Rights
Karl Saurer

Worldwide Distribution

Switzerland
Cinematograph Filmverleih Distribution

Festivals

(a selection)

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