BEATOCELLO’s UMBRELLA, tells the story of Beat Richner M.D. author, illustrator and concert cellist; from his coming-of-age in Switzerland, to his street performances as a young medical student in the persona of the clown Beatocello; to his founding of five children’s hospitals in today’s Cambodia. Revered as a national hero, Richner’s Herculean efforts have saved the lives of millions of Cambodia’s children over the past 20 years, some who have grown up to serve as doctors in his state-of- the-art pediatric hospitals. Now at 64 , Richner continues to practice medicine and travel the world concertising and singing about his protective red umbrella, which has come to symbolise the health and hope he brought to a grateful nation. Unlike many of his contemporaries who held utopian world views, Beat Richner is one of the few who worked to made his vision a reality.
SWISS PREMIERE WITH KING SIHAMONI
Swiss theatrical release with Beat Richner, King Norodom Sihamoni, Emil Steinberger, Georges Gachot. Mai 5th, 2012, cinema Arthouse Le Paris, Zürich.
PRESS RELEASE SWITZERLAND
GERMAN
Bieler Tagblatt • Ein bewegender Film über ein bescheidenen Menschen
St. Galler Tagblatt • Der Cellist und die Kinder
Care, Manager, Care, Tages Woche (—> PDF)
WOZ • Beatocello
Unterwegs mit einem Wohltäter – NLZ
Arzt und Musiker, Bettler und Clown – Der Bund
Schweizer Illustrierte • Der Zauberdoktor
ITALIAN
Corriere del Ticino • Beatocello, Medico Svizzero in Cambogia
FRENCH
JOURNAL DU JURA • L’archet et le bistouri
LE MATIN • Un pédiatre Suisse est le héro d’un documentaire
20 MINUTES • Musique et charité bien coordonnées
LA LIBERTE • Beat Richner, médecin, musicien et humaniste
L’EXPRESS / L’IMPARTIAL• Bouleversant d’émotion et de passion!
L’express • Le parapluie rouge de Beatocello
TRIBUNE DE GENEVE • Beatocello dévoile son jardin secret
CAMBODIA PREMIERE WITH KING SIHAMONI
Chaktamouk Theatre, Phnom Penh, September 14th, 2012
NEW YORK PREMIERE WITH BEAT RICHNER
QUAD Cinema December 13th, 2013
PRESSE USA
New York Times (Anita Gates) • The King of Cambodia seems really nice in “Beatocello’s Umbrella,” Georges Gachot’s heartmelting documentary. He has a wide, warm smile, and he pats the children’s heads when he visits them at the hospital. But the star here is Dr. Beat Richner, who is royal in his own rumpled, noble way.
INTL FILM JOURNAL • Highly worthwhile study of one amazing Renaissance man who’s truly making a difference in Southeast Asia.
