Swiss Labor Drama: Indonesian Distributor Acquires 'Enjoy Your Stay'

Falcon has acquired the Indonesian distribution rights to 'Enjoy Your Stay,' a drama directed by Dominik Locher and Honeylyn Joy Alipio. The film is set to have its Indonesian premiere at the Jakarta World Cinema. The acquisition follows the film's world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

The story centers on Luz, an undocumented Filipina cleaner working at a Swiss luxury ski resort. Mercedes Cabral portrays the character, who faces the threat of losing custody of her children to her husband in the Philippines. Desperate to secure legal documents and higher pay, Luz agrees to work for a Swiss gangmaster. This arrangement turns her into a labor trafficker, a role that proves far more difficult than promised.

Locher describes the setting as the dirty side of the Swiss postcard. He notes that research revealed Indonesian workers in Swiss nail salons often faced worse conditions than those depicted in the film. The directors hope the movie speaks directly to this demographic in Indonesia. Alexis Manenti also stars in the production.

The collaboration between Locher and Alipio began at the Busan International Film Festival. Locher approached Alipio to co-write and direct a story about people living in the shadow of Switzerland. Alipio, who trained under Filipino artist Armando 'Bing' Lao, uses a found story approach that merges real-life cases into fiction. The duo conducted on-site research at Swiss resorts, interviewing undocumented workers from Serbia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.

Alipio has encountered personal biases related to her profession. One of Locher's neighbors once assumed she was his cleaner. Locher corrected the neighbor by stating she was his colleague. Alipio expressed sadness and shame about the common portrayal of Filipinas as domestic workers, noting that it remains a hard reality to accept. She views the partnership as a way to amplify the voices of both countries involved in the narrative.

Locher credits Alipio for ensuring the protagonist was not written solely as a victim. Alipio argued that Luz must be ambitious to justify her presence in Switzerland. This ambition tests her loyalty to her Filipino colleagues, who support one another like sisters. The character's drive creates tension within her community of workers.

Since its release, the film has screened at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, where the directors held a panel with an organization supporting undocumented workers. In Switzerland, the film will have a public screening on November 22. Locher and Alipio previously organized a special screening exclusively for undocumented workers. The event was fully booked and received positive feedback from Filipino viewers who said the film captured their daily lives.

The directors intend for the film to spark discussion on how workers are treated. Alipio has stated that she hopes the specific story told in the movie will no longer occur in real life within 50 years. Locher adds that the goal is for audiences to enjoy the film while considering the social dynamics it presents.

The pair is currently researching their next project, 'Partner Zone.' This upcoming film follows a Swiss ESG auditor to the Philippines to examine a gold mine. Switzerland refines between 50% and 70% of the world's annual gold supply. The team plans to begin scripting in 2027. Ninety percent of the shoot is expected to take place in the Philippines, with the remainder filmed in Geneva. Alipio states that they aim to create more films dedicated to marginalized populations worldwide.