«The New Boyfriend»

When a simple family dinner turns into a showdown over a controversial treasure…

Imagine an evening bringing together three generations around a table: Henri, the strong-willed grandfather with rather sharp opinions, hosts his son Pierre, progressive at heart, accompanied by his daughter Jeanne, her best friend Marie, and Jeanne’s new partner, Théo. From the very first exchanges, the tension rises: diverging political views, family intrigues, distrust towards the «newcomer»… The gathering takes an unexpected turn when Henri reveals the existence of a mysterious gold sculpture, an inheritance from his father, who was once a banker during World War II. This piece, as fascinating as it is unsettling, symbolizes a past that one might sometimes prefer to forget, immediately sparking curiosity—or suspicion—among everyone present. But as the evening progresses, the sculpture disappears. Theft, foul play, or simple misunderstanding? Suspicion quickly falls on Théo, and the tension becomes explosive.

The explosion of a not-so-ordinary dinner

Le Nouveau Copain is a short film that blends social comedy and family drama, shedding light on the complexity of intergenerational ties and the significance of inheritance, whether material or symbolic. Through a gripping narrative, the film explores how the past can continue to weigh on present choices… to the point of shaking everyone’s certainties. After the statue disappears, nothing will go as planned, and events will take a turn that is nothing short of… explosive.

Why is this project special?

A story with a double reading

At first glance, Le Nouveau Copain is a family huis clos where Henri’s gold tooth sculpture serves as a MacGuffin (trigger element), leading to the search for its thief. But beyond this plot, the story is imbued with symbols and allegories related to World War II. Throughout the evening, certain events, in addition to advancing the narrative, echo multiple historical references from 1939-1945. We won’t say more: it’s up to you to discover these elements that make up the film’s second layer of meaning.

Heritage and new generations

Through the younger characters in the story – Jeanne, Marie, and Théo – the question of transmission and the appropriation of family legacies arises. Here, this heritage is primarily symbolized by the famous gold teeth, received by Henri from his father, which he could in turn pass on to his son, Pierre, or his granddaughter, Jeanne. They represent the burdens, faults, consequences, and questionable choices of a past generation, passed down to the next. Faced with this, what should the «new generation» do? Blindly accept what is handed to them? Question the established order? Or break the chain of a harmful legacy? These issues are universal, regardless of time or place. In our own way, in this short film, we provide an alternative perspective on these questions.

First project of the CCA

Le Nouveau Copain is the first cinematic creation carried by the Communauté du Cinéma pour l’Avenir (CCA) association. Founded at the end of 2024, the CCA aims to build the largest support, promotion, and development network for audiovisual and cinema in Switzerland, particularly for emerging filmmakers. The pooling and sharing of skills, talents, and resources are the core values of the association’s artistic activities. Le Nouveau Copain, from its ideation in October 2024, has been conceived and developed as much as possible according to these values, bringing together passionate and motivated individuals who have generously offered their time, skills, and resources in the service of creation.

Valais at the heart of the short film

For various reasons, listed below, Valais plays an important role in Le Nouveau Copain:

• Thierry and Jérémy, respectively HENRI and PIERRE, the father-son duo, residing in Vétroz and Sierre, were both discovered in local theater troupes.
• For filming locations, Thierry, on one hand, made his property available for the realization of almost all the scenes. Jérémy also provided his apartment in Sierre for the final scene. —Finally, the third filming location, for the opening scene, is the Biolaz Highway Rest Area, located 15 minutes from Sion, offering a breathtaking view of the Rhine Valley and its surrounding peaks.
• As a member of the general council of Vétroz, Thierry was able to organize, in collaboration with the municipality, the premiere of the short film, which will take place in a large hall, with several members of the municipal administration and all the guests invited to the first screening.
• Finally, in the historical context of World War II, on which the film is based, Valais was a key location for the arrival and reception of many Jewish refugees.

Why do we need your support?

So far, we have self-financed the project: pre-production, rental of rehearsal spaces, initial scouting, etc… To successfully carry out our project under the best possible conditions, we need your support to raise the necessary funds for covering various essential expenses:

• The rental of filming equipment and related transport costs
• The necessary remuneration of certain members of the filming crew
• The travel expenses of actors and crew members
• Accommodation costs (rooms, hotel)
• Meal expenses for 15 people over three full days

Although we are already fortunate and honored to count on the participation and voluntary contribution of time and resources from the filming crew and actors, Le Nouveau Copain requires additional support to come to life and reach its highest level of success. We are counting on your support and encouragement to make this project a reality as we all hope!