A Forgotten Man

Spring 1945, Heinrich Zwygart abandons a shattered Berlin after eight years as Switzerland's representative in the heart of the Reich. The film follows his flight out of a city in ruins, and the heavy personal cost of choices he made to keep his country neutral and secure. He carried out duties that forced him into morally fraught arrangements with German authorities, and now the war's end brings a different kind of danger: scrutiny, guilt, and the question of whether ordinary rules still apply when order collapses. The story stays close to family ties and diplomatic strain, showing how official duty and private conscience collide without revealing how events finally resolve.

Created and directed by Laurent Nègre, the film was released in 2023, featuring a small but focused cast led by Michael Neuenschwander as Heinrich Zwygart and Manuela Biedermann as Clara Zwygart. The production emphasizes period detail and intimate interiors over large-scale spectacle.

Box office figures for the film are not widely reported, suggesting a limited theatrical run and a focus on festival screenings or targeted regional distribution rather than a broad commercial rollout.

Critical reaction has been mixed, reflected in a modest average score from a small number of votes. Reviewers and viewers have commented on the strength of the lead performances and the film's sober treatment of moral ambiguity, while some noted a deliberate pace that may test viewers looking for more action. Themes of responsibility, national policy versus personal ethics, and the aftermath of violence are central to conversations about the movie.

Though not a mainstream hit, the film touches on issues that resonate beyond its plot, prompting discussion about Switzerland's wartime posture and the duties of diplomats in extreme circumstances. Its focus on quiet, tense exchanges and the erosion of certainty after conflict gives it a niche appeal for audiences interested in history, ethics, and character-driven drama.