Max & Co

Max & Co. is an animated film from 2007, which was co-produced between Switzerland, Belgium, France and the UK. With production costs of more than 30 million Swiss francs ( 19.2 million euros ), it is the most expensive Swiss film production, but at the same time also the biggest flop of the Swiss film history, which led to a political stoppage due to government subsidies in the millions. Released the film is in French and Swiss German synchronization.

Action

The Fox Max, 15 years old, comes in search of his father in the small town of Saint- Hilaire. There, Max finds refuge with Mrs. Doudou, with whose help he at the local fly flap factory, the Bzzz and Co., finds a job, which is the main employer in the town.

However, the business of the factory is not running very well. The current owner Rodolfo, the company inherited from his godfather and wants at all costs to boost the sale of fly swatters. To achieve this goal, scientists developed the Martin a sinister plan.

First, the ordinary employees are placed on the road, including the father of Fränzi, which has fallen in love with Max. Together with Max finds out that the new advertising campaign of the factory is just a facade to hide dark machinations. The company wants to breed flies to more fly swatters for sale in the resulting plague of flies. Together with Fränzi, singer Kathy and musician Johnny, Max tries to warn the population of the town.

Synchronization

Reviews

Martin Walder writes in the NZZ am Sonntag that with Max & Co. a " charming, airy little story " was created, which also a " socially critical fable about good, old solidarity " would be. However, he criticized that might be too much to love "in the ideas, details, motives" has, but at the same time it " to focus on the psychological core " is missing.

Writes Rolf Breiner on cineman.ch that the story is told " loving " and "eco- attraction, fairytale charm, interpersonal tones and musical pep " has. The film, however, would seem " a little Swiss slowly and leisurely ," writes Rolf Breiner.

Viewers flop and financial disaster

The film proved to be the biggest flop of the Swiss film history. At CHF 30 million is Max & Co, the most expensive Swiss production of all time. The film started with the same number of copies as once the successful Swiss films Grounding - The Last Days of Swissair and Mein Name ist Eugen - still only about 16,000 spectators, three quarters of which came in the first two weeks in the Romandie. However, its producers were expecting 110,000. Because of the lack of spectator interest the film was gradually moved to the afternoon program or completely taken out of the box programs.

According to a 13 August 2008 published by the Fribourg newspaper La Liberté and the Federal Office of Culture (FOC ) confirmed report, the two production companies have reported bankruptcy.

At the cost of production, the Confederation had contributed a total of 5 million francs, of which 1.5 million, the Federal Office of Culture. The financial flop has thus triggered a political repercussions, the consequences for relations between the Télévision Suisse Romande and the BAC have yet to be clarified. The movie producers wanted yet take a position. The FOC announced to want them to take in the second half of August in order to clarify the reasons of bankruptcies.