Fortress, The

Men, women and children from Romania, Togo, Georgia, Kosovo and Colombia arrive each week on Switzerland's doorstep. They are running from war, dictatorship, persecution, climate change and economic problems. After life threatening struggles to reach Switzerland they are guided to one of the five processing centres of which Vallorbe is one. In this austere environment they are held in conditions that closely resemble detention while they wait idly for the Swiss authorities to decide what will become of them. Facing these immigrants are men and women of diverse origins. They manage the welcome as well as the stay of these people. It falls on their shoulders to apply the most restrictive laws on asylum in Europe (adopted in September 2006) and to decide based only on two interviews the validity of their request for asylum. (Moscow International Film Festival)