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From the “Arena” moderator to the star of the anti-corona movement: former SRF editor Reto Brennwald (57) wrote “Unheard of!” filmed a documentary about the Corona crisis and the associated effects on our social life and economy. The author consciously lets Corona skeptics and protesters speak up, who have since celebrated him as one of their own. In an interview with BLICK, the man from Zurich explains what made him choose this film and why he clearly distances himself from conspiracy theories.
VISTA: Mr. Brennwald, the number of infections is increasing rapidly in Switzerland, more people have to be treated in hospital again for Covid-19. In this context, can you even take responsibility for a movie that challenges the federal government’s crown measures?
Challenge Brennwald: Yes, I can, because the film asks fundamental questions that are highly topical. For example, if a block is effective or does more damage. Of course, politicians have to answer these questions, but we have to be able to ask them. The dialogue must be there and not be one-sided. Which has been the case often in the past.
Why was it important to you to make the Corona skeptics speak out with your film?
I had a watershed experience with virologist Karin Mölling, who spoke critically, warned against scare tactics, and was later portrayed as trivializing in the media. In the end, she did not want to appear in my film for fear of negative press. That seemed questionable to me. This poisoning of freedom of expression bothers me.
Corona-Skeptiker-Film: “Unheard” gives voice to the unheard(01:56)
In addition to constitutional and medical lawyers, “Unerhört!” Many protesters also gave their opinion, but they are not related to one of the more than 2,000 deaths by crown in Switzerland. That seems journalistically unbalanced.
I wanted to take a different perspective. Of course, individual destinies are very tragic, we know that. But there is also another side. People who have lost their livelihoods due to the economic consequences of the closure. Not only are “Corona Skeptics” radicalized at the demonstrations, they come from a wide range of people: businessmen, lawyers, doctors, restaurateurs or people from the tourism industry and many more.
How about being made the figurehead for crown deniers and conspiracy theorists in the run-up to your movie?
Oh God, I am a journalist and not a front man (laughs) No seriously: I’m not a Corona skeptic and I also distance myself from conspiracy theories. I was the first to go shopping with a mask at Migros in the village and stopped shaking hands from the beginning. But when you saw at Easter that the crisis was subsiding, I asked myself questions and I became skeptical about certain measures.
Are all governments and health organizations wrong with their behavior?
I think the devil is in the details. In a way, we go back to the same point we were in spring. Every day we are bombarded with contagion numbers and we know that if more are tested, there will be more cases. The most important thing is the proportionality and the effects that the measures cause in social, economic and health terms. And this discussion should be open and not in black and white.
How do you feel about the current crown measures of the federal government?
They are fine by me. I think it’s fine in the current situation and I wear a mask wherever I have to. Nor would it be right for people to accuse me of not taking Corona seriously. My wife is a doctor. We have spoken every day since the beginning of the pandemic about the crisis and the associated effects on the health system. So I faced the seriousness of Corona from the beginning.
Marco Rima, who heads Coronav, makes the most of the headlines among prominent skepticsirus compared to the flu, among other things. Also in your movie you let the comedian speak several times.
Yes, I liked what Rima said in his first two Youtube videos. That covered my perception at the time. Be objective, find a way back to normalcy. But I didn’t like the way Rima said awkwardly later, that hurt him. However, it is not necessary to demote him to a “persona non grata”.
At the end of the film, you will summarize that we will have to have a dialogue in the future about Corona. What exactly should this dialogue look like?
Objective and less alarmist. The fronts must relax again so that an open exchange is possible. I am also trying to make a contribution: I will make my film, which I have financed myself, available for free on Youtube starting next week. This means that everyone can watch it for free and get an idea of what the “never heard” page has to say in the crisis.
The premiere of “Unheard of!” It will take place today, Friday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Samsung Hall in Zurich.
Christian lanz
Reto Brennwald (57) began his journalistic career in the late 1980s on the Swiss radio DRS. The Zurich-born man made himself known to a wide audience when he presented the popular political programs “Rundschau” and “Arena” for Swiss television. Later, Brennwald also worked for the SRF “Reporter” and “DOK” formats. Today he is a freelance journalist, filmmaker and television host.
