Big Mac Small World

Switzerland, January 2001
FILM, Documentary, 100 min.

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directed by: Peter Guyer
Written by: Peter Guyer
Status: In distribution

China, USA, South Africa, Finland, Brazil, Switzerland – and McDonald's everywhere. The “hamburger road” takes us around the world into the lives of six people with one thing in common: they all work for McDonald's. One job, six different fates. Caught in the midst of the battle for market share, the dictates of accountancy and the logic of “time and motion”, each is seeking his or her place in this big little world. There's Jenny in Switzerland, raising chickens and fighting for her family; William in Rio, who is trying to escape from poverty and looking to his religion for guidance; Franz in South Africa, torn between his job in the city and the claims of his clan in the township; Mao, who would like to see her native China establish links with the modern world, and also find herself a husband; Connie in Las Vegas, who would like a daughter and much else besides; and finally Jarmo in Lapland, who in his own way is trying to escape the “global pressure” at the polar circle. A film about people at the interface between globalisation and individuality, desire versus reality, local traditions and the global market. Unusual, thoughtful and humorous.

credits

World Premiere: January 2001
Original Version: Chinese, English, South African languages, Portuguese, Finnish, German (french/german subtitles), colour, 35mm, 100 min.
Production: Recycled TV AG, ZDF/ARTE, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, ZDF Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
Producer: Marian Amstutz
directed by: Peter Guyer
Written by: Peter Guyer
Cinematography: Matthias Kälin
Editing: Kathrin Plüss
Music: Mich Gerber
Location Sound Mix: Balthasar Jucker