On December 26, 2004, Matthias Brefin is at home in Switzerland. He has given up his Christmas vacation in Thailand so that his daughter Mireille and his wife Rosette can extend their stay by the sea – giving Mireille the chance to recover from a difficult brain tumor surgery.
When news of the devastating tsunami reaches Matthias, a period of fear and uncertainty begins: where are his daughter and his wife?

“Es geschah am… Der Tsunami von 2004” tells the moving story of the Brefin family. This docudrama follows Matthias and his son in their relentless search for Mireille, exploring emotional highs and lows, the challenges of grieving, and the strength to rebuild life after such a tragedy.

The film also gives a voice to people who experienced the events firsthand, sharing how the tsunami profoundly changed their lives.



The tsunami, triggered by the third most powerful undersea earthquake ever recorded, claimed an estimated 230,000 lives, including 113 Swiss nationals. In its aftermath, over a million people were left homeless across the coastal regions of Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.

Interview with Wendy on the news program Tagesschau.

Technical informations

Genre: Docudrama
Year of production: 2024
Color
Length: 91 min
Shooting Format: HD
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Sound: Stereo
Languages: Swiss German, Thai, German

Cast

MATTHIAS BREFIN Michael Neuenschwander
MIREILLE BREFIN Magdalena Neuhaus
ROSETTE BREFIN Grazia Pergoletti
LUKAS BREFIN Julian Anatol Schneider
URS SCHNEIDER Samuel Streiff
THAILÄNDISCHER ARZT Thaddy Spörri
AIRPORT EMPLOYEE Rhea Careddu
CUSTOM OFFICER  Edita Škalic
WOMAN ON THE PHONE Kathrin Veith
WAITRESS Pimjan Thongkumngam

Themselves (many thanks for your stories)
Matthias Brefin
Anita Moor
Raymond Moor
Beat Schweiter
Urs Schneider
Pascal Bornoz
Sawanee Na Takuathung

Crew

Director Wendy Pillonel
Screenplay Rolf Elsener
Assistant director Micha Muhl
Crowd AD Juliana Bearth

Cinematography René Schönenberger
Assistant camera Christian Mathis
2nd assistant camera Idoia Felis-Casillas

Sound Niel Bieri

Chef electrician Roland Koch
Best boy David Frauenknecht
Electricians Mica Sedlacek

Production Design Antonia Dobler
Set dresser Seraina Zolliker
Additional Helpers Production Design Irene Kueng Birrer, Karin Nyffenegger

Costumes Doris Marti
Costumes assistent Maude Vuillemier
Make Up Prisca Hofer
Make up support Lilian Eggenberger, Cornelia Kohler

Casting Nora Leibundgut – Glaus Casting
Casting extras Sonja Levy – Background Action

Executive Producer  Rolf Elsener
Line Producer Oliver Bolt
Line Producer Thailand Nat Sumon
Set manager Davide Oliveri
Runner Harrison Kremo

Editing Nicole Hussy

Music Alexandre J. Maurer

VFX supervisor Robin Disch – Das Alte Lager
Colorgrading Claudia Remondino
Sounddesing & Mix Christoph Lüthi

Redaktion Corinne Naef
Head of entertainment Alexa Brogli
Set Photographer Sava Hlavacek

CREW THAILAND

Line Producer Nat Sumon
Production assistant Elga Delio
Gaffer Kriengsak Kokanutranont
Best Boy Khamla Rungroj
1st AC Metawat Bunyasakwuttikul
Drone operator Eak photographer
Production Design Dvis Nichathaaman
Runner Ploywarin Cheevaraksa
Drivers Sakonsak Thongleung & Thonglim Thaworn

THANKS TO
Martin Maillard
Nat Sumon
Anette Brefin
Lukas Brefin
Anastasia Birrer
Yvonne Spicar
Mathias Gerig
Marcel Zimmermann
André Gwerder
Ainhoa-Yeray Beruete & Mom
Lanna Restaurant & Massage Khao Lak
Poseidon Bungalows & Surin Tours Khao Lak

© SRF 2024