Documentary, 88 min.

Title E:	Lucky Jack – Three Attempts to Stop Smoking
Title F:	Jean le Bienheureux – Trois tentatives d'arrêter de tabac

by Peter Liechti

Switzerland, August 2003

The story of a man who sets out to get rid of his habit of smoking. Thus he plans to walk from Zurich, his present residence, “back” to his native town St. Gallen, where he started to smoke a long time ago. He is prepared to repeat this journey – everytime choosing another route – so often until his goal has been achieved: finally non-smoker! By way of the ritual walking across the countryside and the strict ban on smoking he imposes on himself on the way, he hopes to be freed of his burdening vices. This search for the source of his addiction becomes more and more an actual search for his home, an attempt to re-establish the connection with his own origin. All these landscapes, encounters and recollections, that he walks through on his mostly rather strange non-smoker’s trips, finally form the basis to a cinematic heaven and hell ride right across his fatherland – with occasional excursions far beyond the borders. « Lucky Jack» is a reckoning and a declaration of love. A road movie for pedestrians, a film in regional setting for homeless people. A dedication to all smokers and other addicts, to all unlucky devils who have still remained decent – and of course to Lucky Jacks everywhere.

www.peterliechti.ch/filme/hans_im_glueck/