Swiss Yodelling: 30 Years Later

In 1984, documentary filmmaker Hugo Zemp traveled to Muotatal in the Swiss Prealps to make a nonfiction feature on the traditional local style of yodeling known as “yootz,” which differed in many aspects from the more theatrical yodeling that most people associate with Switzerland. After restoring his film, Zemp decided to return to Muotatal in 2014 as a follow-up, and he connected with Bernhard Betschart, who was a 7-year-old in Zemp's original production. Betschart recently achieved minor celebrity as a country music singer appearing in a Swiss TV version of The Voice, and this film offers a rather lengthy consideration of how he lived in the United States and Canada and came to learn English and appreciate the joys of Nashville's music output. But Betschart never gave up his love of yodeling, and he teamed with five friends to create a traditional yootzing group called Natur Pur. Although Betschart is a charismatic figure with genuine music talent, the documentary often feels likes an overlong home movie for Betschart and his friends. A niche title for music collections or those specializing in Swiss folk culture, this is an optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)