Yodel-ay-eee-OOOOO

An actor’s process takes as long as it takes, and that can’t be Alped. This Traktor-directed film for the Swiss Tourism board employs the ad within an ad trope, with Roger Federer and Mads Mikkelsen promoting autumn in Switzerland. But Mikkelsen's need to first immerse himself in nature happens on the clock, much to the (on-screen) director's distress. (As always when TVCs are self-reflective, the director is represented as an utter twat... is this really how you see yourselves, you self-esteem starved souls?)

While the crew sit around on a hillside wondering if Mads has gone mad, the Hannibal star turns vegetarian, sampling the local mosses and making friends of the bovine kind. Federer understands, and ensures he’s left alone to meditate in the rain. Mikkelsen eventually feels ready to shoot - unhelpfully reminding everyone that time is money - but by now the former tennis champion’s decided he too would rather be making leaf angles.

It’s a film which certainly shows off the country’s autumnal delights. With golden performances and a catchy, modern yodelling-adjacent soundtrack by The Baldenweg Siblings, it strikes the right balance between earnestness and quirkiness to make it both an effective piece of branded content, and a delightfully memorable watch.

Product Category: Tourist Boards

Territory: Switzerland

Yodel-ay-eee-OOOOO

by Melissa Roberts

An actor’s process takes as long as it takes, and that can’t be Alped. This Traktor-directed film for the Swiss Tourism board employs the ad within an ad trope, with Roger Federer and Mads Mikkelsen promoting autumn in Switzerland. But Mikkelsen's need to first immerse himself in nature happens on the clock, much to the (on-screen) director's distress. (As always when TVCs are self-reflective, the director is represented as an utter twat... is this really how you see yourselves, you self-esteem starved souls?)

While the crew sit around on a hillside wondering if Mads has gone mad, the Hannibal star turns vegetarian, sampling the local mosses and making friends of the bovine kind. Federer understands, and ensures he’s left alone to meditate in the rain. Mikkelsen eventually feels ready to shoot - unhelpfully reminding everyone that time is money - but by now the former tennis champion’s decided he too would rather be making leaf angles.

It’s a film which certainly shows off the country’s autumnal delights. With golden performances and a catchy, modern yodelling-adjacent soundtrack by The Baldenweg Siblings, it strikes the right balance between earnestness and quirkiness to make it both an effective piece of branded content, and a delightfully memorable watch.

Product Category: Tourist Boards

Territory: Switzerland