The Salamander

The Salamander is a 1971 Swiss drama film directed by Alain Tanner. The film was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 45th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. Plot A young woman is accused of having shot her uncle, but she claims he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun. Two friends are commissioned to write a film script based on this incident. Each of them chooses an approach in accordance with his profession. The journalist interviews the young woman, yet her statements seem to be contradictory. The novelist invents fictitious explanations which seem plausible, but, when he gets to know the woman, she's very different from what he has imagined. In the end, both refrain from working on this film project. Cast Bulle Ogier as Rosemonde Jean-Luc Bideau as Pierre Jacques Denis as Paul Véronique Alain as Suzanne Daniel Stuffel as the boss at the shoe shop Marblum Jequier as Paul's wife (as Marblum Jéquier) Marcel Vidal as Rosemonde's uncle Dominique Catton as Roger Violette Fleury as the mother of the boss at the shoe shop Mista Préchac as Rosemonde's mother See also List of submissions to the 45th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film List of Swiss submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film