In the White City

• Bruno Ganz: Paul
• Teresa Madruga: Pink
• Julia Vonderlinn: Elisa
• José Carvalho: Rosas chief

In the White City is a Swiss- Portuguese film by Swiss director Alain Tanner of 1983.

Action

Paul is a sailor. He works as a flight engineer in the noisy engine room. In Lisbon, his ship put on, and he goes ashore. He decides to go easy not return to the ship. He roams the city and takes her impressions on. He wrote to his wife Elisa letters and sends her super-8 video messages homecoming in Switzerland. Then he begins a passionate affair with the pension employees Rosa. He writes to his wife and does not hide her also pink, while he assured his love of his wife. Elisa announces more enigmatic letters finally from the distant war in Switzerland, while Paul in Lisbon now vanished Pink investigated.

Reception

The poetic film develops a quiet, intense atmosphere. The convincing acting performances of all- Madruga and convey the dreariness of searching for meaning in spontaneous dropout Paul, but also the oppressive life Rosas. Both seek from different directions for meaning and fulfillment, and inner peace. The morbid charm of the sun-drenched Lisbon and its decaying old streets form the framework.

With the movie Alain Tanner won the praise of critics worldwide. He ran at various festivals and in 1984 he received the César for best French-language film.