One of the first sound films produced in Switzerland, Rapt brings together a constellation of actors and technicians from different horizons, making it a unique and innovative work. Adapted by the poet Benjamin Fondane from the novel La Séparation des races by Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz (who appears in the film) and directed by Dimitri Kirsanoff (with whom Stefan Markus had previously worked), the story is set in Lens, a village nestled between the Valais and Bernese Alps where Ramuz had lived and which inspired the novel. The outdoor scenes were shot on location in difficult conditions, which are visible in the film. In addition to Kirsanoff’s visual poetry, Rapt stands out for the originality of its soundtrack. Composers Honegger and Hoérée experimented with various effects, from direct sound recordings and Martenot waves, to physical manipulation of the sound negative. The original materials were also reworked several times by Kirsanoff, and the film was released in several versions. Despite critical acclaim, the film was not a success and was Markus’ first and last production with Mentor Film AG. Since then, the elements have also suffered from the passage of time and decay has severely affected the image negative, which is now incomplete. As the conservation elements are quite different from the originals, it was necessary to restore the film from scratch. For the reconstruction, several vintage elements were used, including a nitrate print deposited by the producer, which was the only located material that allowed a more accurate grading than in previous restorations. However, since it was impossible to date the print, we decided to preserve all its physical characteristics, including any damage that existed at the time of printing, in order to maintain a certain degree of consistency. Finally, particular attention was given to the sound, trying to simulate as closely as possible the listening experience of the sound equipment used in cinemas at the time.

Camille Blot-Wellens