The Grüninger File

In 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany, and Switzerland closed its borders for Jewish refugees, which was an immediate death sentence for thousands. But not all Swiss officials observed this inhuman order: the St. Gallen Police Commander Paul Grüninger put not only his career, but also his life on the line by disregarding orders and allowing all Jews to enter the country, most of them under the cover of night and in danger of being shot by Austrian border guards. This suspenseful biopic relates the tense war of wits fought between Paul Grüninger and his colleagues and superiors in the police force of officially neutral Switzerland. Rightfully hailed as the Swiss Oskar Schindler, Grüninger was responsible for letting 3,600 Jews enter the country—and was sentenced to a prison term for falsifying documents and abuse of office.