Children of the Open Road
Kinder der Landstrasse
Synopsis
In 1939, after barely escaping the Nazis, a Gypsy family returns to Switzerland only to be torn apart by racial persecution in the benign guise of children's welfare. This fictionalized story of Jana, an eight-year-old Gypsy girl snatched from her parents and consigned to a life of orphanages and bleak foster homes, is based on a little-known chapter of Swiss history: From 1926 to 1972, the state-supported Pro Juventute, a children's aid foundation, forcibly removed some 700 Gypsy children from their families, in order to sever the ties with their culture and assimilate them to a "better way of life." The underlying aim was to preempt a new generation's caravans from following their nomadic traditions along Switzerland's country lanes.
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Urs Egger
- Screenplay & Story
- Johannes Bösiger
- Original Title
- Kinder der Landstrasse
- Country of Origin
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland
- Spoken Languages
- German
- Runtime
- 1h 57m
- Production Studios
- Panorama Films (CH), Lichtblick Film, Wega Film
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Urs Egger
Johannes Bösiger
Lukas Strebel
Barbara Hennings
Urs Egger, Peter Spoerri, Johannes Bösiger
Department Leadership Roster
Urs Egger
Director
Barbara Hennings
Editor
Sabina Haag
Costume Design
Urs Egger
Producer
Johannes Bösiger
Writer
Lukas Strebel
Director of Photography
Peter Spoerri
Producer
Johannes Bösiger
Producer
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Frequently Asked Questions About Children of the Open Road
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Children of the Open Road about?
In 1939, after barely escaping the Nazis, a Gypsy family returns to Switzerland only to be torn apart by racial persecution in the benign guise of children's welfare. This fictionalized story of Jana, an eight-year-old Gypsy girl snatched from her parents and consigned to a life of orphanages and bleak foster homes, is based on a little-known chapter of Swiss history: From 1926 to 1972, the state-supported Pro Juventute, a children's aid foundation, forcibly removed some 700 Gypsy children from their families, in order to sever the ties with their culture and assimilate them to a "better way of life." The underlying aim was to preempt a new generation's caravans from following their nomadic traditions along Switzerland's country lanes.
Who directed Children of the Open Road?
Children of the Open Road was directed by Urs Egger.
Who stars in Children of the Open Road?
The principal cast of Children of the Open Road includes Jasmin Tabatabai, Andrea Eckert, Hans Peter Korff, Nina Petri, Wolf-Dietrich Berg.
When was Children of the Open Road released and how long is it?
Children of the Open Road was released in 1992 with a total runtime of 1h 57m.