Marie-Louise (film)

In 1941, a 12-year-old French girl from occupied France is sent to Switzerland to recover from the effects of wartime bombing. When no foster family is found for her, a social worker takes her into her father's home. Over time, the girl and the initially gruff old man develop a close bond. After three months in Switzerland, however, she must return to France. == Cast ==

The cast includes: • Josiane Hegg as Marie-Louise Fleury • Heinrich Gretler as Direktor Rüegg / Director Rüegg • Anne-Marie Blanc as Heidi Rüegg • Margrit Winter as Anna Rüegg • Armin Schweizer as Lehrer Bänninger / Teacher Bänninger • Mathilde Danegger as Päuli • Fred Tanner as Robert Scheibli • Emil Gerber as Ernst Schwarzenbach • Bernard Ammon as André • Pauline Carton as Frau Gilles / Mrs. Gilles • Germaine Tournier as Frau Fleury / Mrs. Fleury • Jean Hort as Vater Deschamps == Release and reception ==

Marie-Louise premiered on 19 February 1944 at the Apollo cinema in Zurich. Critics received the film very positively. Reviews praised its honesty, credibility, and spirit of helpfulness. The film ran for 16 weeks in Zurich and drew about one million cinema admissions nationwide. In 1946, Richard Schweizer won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film. Marie-Louise was the first non-English-language film to receive an Oscar. == Restoration ==

The film was digitally restored by Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), with support from the Cinémathèque suisse, Praesens-Film, and the Memoriav foundation. The restoration was based on a photochemically prepared version from 2013, which had to be checked against parts of other versions. The work also involved image retouching and the correction of copying errors in the negative. The restored version was screened at the Zurich Film Festival in 2015. == References ==