You've heard of the spaghetti western; how about the fondue western? Olivier Beguin (director of Chimeres) has been in the Neuchâtel area, producing what might be the first Swiss western short, Sons of Bitches. Directed by Arnaud Baur, the film is halfway through shooting, with the final days of production scheduled for April. In the meantime, they have released a few stills along with the background of this tale. There is a crowdfunding campaign, should you wish to contribute.
Correction: Beguin directed another Swiss western short, Dead Bones, in 2008.
Sally is a prostitute for pioneers and trappers in a small town in Wisconsin. As she can no longer bear the abuses and fears for her baby’s life, she decides to run away and face the cold and snowy mountains instead of enduring the violence one more day.
From the director: "Far from the image of the good whore we are used to in westerns, prostitution in the wild west was a wretched reality: rapes, addiction, depression and persecutions. With Sons of Bitches, the idea is to demystify those watered down tales by offering a singular and uncompromising film."
While western (even spaghetti westerns) are usually associated with desert plains, and usual indigenous characters, snow and mountains aren't unusual. Luckily, that's what you find in Switzerland.
With only two main characters, this should prove to be as much psychological as it is about the environment, which is really the heart of the western genre. Keep your eyes out for it at upcoming festivals!