Emil Steinberg never joked about homosexuality

Cabaret artist Emil Steinberger becomes a movie star again 46 years after “The Swiss Made.” At ZFF, he also expressed his political views in interviews.

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Sometimes you just have to say: a man, a sweater! Emile looked stunning in a royal blue outfit that paired with his icy gray hair at Frame Cinemas early on Friday afternoon and shouldn't go unnoticed. Our Emil Watson editorial team conducted a survey on who Emil really is, and a very young staff member responded with the following: “Isn't that the young hottie?” Well, just missed it. At 91 years old, he is indeed no longer young. But it's still hot. And it's okay.

Emil Steinberger, who rose to prominence as cabaret artist “Emil” with Bernhard Russi in the 1970s, said he never joked about three topics : About the church, because everyone’s relationship with religion is so unique and intimate; about the church, because everyone’s relationship with religion is so unique and intimate; about the military, because that’s so cheap; “about gays, I’m really won't attack them,” something he wouldn't have thought of even fifty years ago, when everyone was doing it.

Emil, on the other hand, made fun of Switzerland and the Swiss in his legendary show. He is like a magnifying glass, focusing ruthlessly on the so-called “normal” Bendsley average and bringing it to the stage in a distorted and amplified way. His characters are our daily lives: passengers and bus drivers, climbers, tour leaders (Chilili from Vassen), firefighters, waiters (vegetarian restaurants), civil servants, experts (whether on airplanes or farmers) Calendar) ) or just a neighbor.

In 1977, Circus Knie named his project Emil “Kniemil”. Image: KEYSTONE

Their biggest characteristics are nervousness, stubbornness, and narrow-mindedness, which the Emir extracted from them. Totally ineffective paragraph junkie. As a German critic once said, they have both friendly malice and malicious kindness. The Swiss laughed. and trembled. In fact, Emile has always been one thing on stage: a Swiss manufacturer. Not only in Rolf Lyssy's 1978 film “The Swiss Made”, as a naturalization officer in Zurich he falls in love with a dancer named “Fräulein Vakulic”.

In 1978, Walo Lüönd, Emil and director Rolf Lyssy filmed Swiss Made.Image: KEYSTONE

It became the most successful Swiss film of all time and is still very good, Emile said: “The sad thing is: nothing has changed!” Thousands of people would laugh at the horrors of the authorities in cinemas and think it was Stupid, and today? «Things get worse! Why does every smallest community have the right to decide who can be Swiss? “Is the emir a supporter of easier naturalization? Would he still be interested in entering politics now that he is old,” asked host and ZFF director Christian Jungs. “No!” Political life is dirty and dirty and I can't stand it! “

On May 15, 1977, the Circus Knie football team, including Emile, played a match against the Zurich Sports Journalists.Image: PHOTOPRESS ARCHIVES

Emile shot the documentary “Typical” with his wife Nissel, young director Phil Meyer (whose tattoos were “taboo” during filming, Emile said) and photographer Elma Bossard. Emir”. That's why he's now at ZFF and sitting in front of the audience wearing a blue sweater on Friday. This is “his” movie. Very determined. He wanted to have a say in everything, even the editing. A movie dedicated to fans. Personal, celebrating success, avoiding hitting the wall (no mention of Emile's first marriage), also sentimental, and full of archival material you can enjoy – and home videos, as we all have, Sweet and occasionally a little awkward. Emile – This is sanity.

He actually didn't want to premiere at ZFF, his team and Niccel were considering Locarno, the Grand Piazza, he says now, but then Locarno's artistic director Giona Nazzaro offered him Writing a well-intentioned rejection letter with a “very good argument” is not a “slanderous letter” at all. In general, he is not opposed to criticism, not even negative criticism; which can often be found A kernel of truth that he could exploit.

Only his parents' criticism hurt him in the long run. You can hear it in the movie, and you can hear it live now, all these years later, the voice still sounds a little hurt, you can feel it. Emil was born in Lucerne on Epiphany 1933. His parents were strict Catholics and very strict, there was no sense of humor in the family and people were never allowed to talk about current events at the dinner table. Visitors came only twice a year, he said in the film, and only then did the mother provide white cloths to protect the upholstered furniture from the children. A home is like a tomb, “a stiff nest.”

Emil's first career choice fulfilled his parents' expectations and became a postal worker. But at age 22, he looked around and imagined what it would be like to spend decades in this job, so he quit his job and went to art school, while his mother slept for ten days in shock. Trained as a graphic artist and a calf, he took his role as an artist very seriously and over the years he became a successful operator of small theaters and cinemas in Lucerne (he “showed only the best films”, showing only Arthouse, Fellini, Truffaut), Fassbinder) and the most successful Swiss cabaret artists.

This 1988 chair upholstery, which was in poor taste at the time, is still available at Emil's today. Also worth noting: white socks.Image: Imagery

Franz Holler helped him develop the first show; he improvised with Franz, Rene and Dimitri; the four of them would have formed a great Swiss cabaret troupe. Circus Knight ticket sales were two to three times higher after Emile joined the show, and tabloids and fans mobbed him even when he was shopping for shoes. However, his parents never uttered the term “cabaret artist.”

Then the break, Emil Steinberg had enough of Emil, he didn't want to be a veteran, self-exploitation machine, he went out, Switzerland was shocked and slept for more than ten days, but Emil went to Germany first and entered the advertising industry, and then Traveled to New York at age 60. He wanted to take a break. But during a break, he was contacted by a German theater scholar and German scholar who was 32 years his junior and with whom he had corresponded for many years because she wanted to be a clown. The two met and fell in love and have been together ever since. The happiest couple in Switzerland, with their double smiles, has always been united.

Emil calls the collage of kiosk posters “almost a diary.”Image: Filmcoopy

Nissel also sat in the front row next to the camera crew at Frame Cinemas, correcting her husband when he mispronounced a name or didn't know the year. These two men – and this becomes clear in the film, and this is clear in the images – have each other's raison d'être, being in a never-ending communion and always trying to outdo each other with their energy. Because Emil Company also needs a lot of energy. For the books he wrote, for the performances, for the films, for documenting the life and career they pursued together (Emil saved everything, with his name on every “Blick” poster), for Nisser's own paintings , very simply, for life itself.

If you watch excerpts from Emil's old show in the movie, his harmless, milky face is reminiscent of a young Dustin Hoffman. When he wears a trench coat and hat, you inevitably think of an unassuming, lovable spy. This is exactly what Emile showed in his observations, which he expressed in his writings or speeches: as a spy moving in the Swiss soul. For those who think they are particularly indestructible.

Typical Emile will be released in cinemas from November 7th.