"Make Zurich your territory" was the recruitment slogan of the Zurich city police a few years ago. Anyone who opposes the status quo in my home town has to expect violent police repression. A system of intimidation that penetrates even the most private spaces. "Revier" was strongly influenced by a personal frustration with the police apparatus. Starting out as a documentary portrait of various voices affected by repression, the film developed more and more into an essayistic form.

An atmospheric picture of everyday urban life with police omnipresence – Zurich as a home and at the same time a place of violence. For several months, various people used MiniDV cameras to collect personal perspectives on the city and repression. Mixed with staged images of Zurich, a searching narrative emerged – without a conclusive plot, but hopefully opening up new spaces for thought.

Directors Statement