This video essay explores the hidden colonial history of my home country, Switzerland. Growing up, I had never been aware of this past and have always been told in favour of the country’s image of neutrality. This project exposes a historical legacy by combining archival material and present-day footage, researching the origin of the Swiss chocolate. Its narrative is constructed around one question: How did a country that has never been recognised as a colonial power, come to have a national emblem made from a tropical raw material? This exploration starts at Basel Street in Accra, Ghana. This film was made in collaboration with people in Ghana and Switzerland, all footages were recorded by them.
It has been screened at various festivals and exhibitions; the Upcoming Film Makers in Luzern (Switzerland), Screen and Story Film Festival and Lift Off festival, amongst others. It won the Semi Finalist position at the Sweden Film Awards and is currently shown at ‘Positioned Realities’ at Haus der Statistik (Berlin).