« The Very Last Christmas» by Reinhard Fust, Emanuel Engin

Two young couples, an introverted middle-aged man, and a chalet nestled in the Swiss Alps during the heart of winter.

All the ingredients for a high-tension cinematic experience are there, promising an emotional crescendo. But The Very Last Christmas is much more than just a survival drama. Directed by Reinhard Fust and Emanuel Engin, the film unfolds in an almost theatrical setting: the walls of a secluded chalet and, in the background, the high mountains, seemingly calm beneath the snow but capable of swallowing everything in an instant.

The protagonist, Urs (played by director Fust), is a man suspended between spirituality and pragmatism, almost a silent guardian of a place that feels timeless. But the equilibrium starts to crack when four young people arrive at the chalet: minor incidents and misunderstandings bring an underlying tension to the surface. As Christmas Eve approaches, a sense of unease fills the air.

Then, the disaster: on the very night of Christmas Eve, a violent storm triggers a massive avalanche, burying the chalet under meters of snow. Isolated from the outside world, the characters find themselves prisoners of the cold and fear, with no possibility of calling for help. Their chances of survival dwindle as the hours pass, while the tension between them grows. How long before their bodies give way? And, above all, who will make it out alive from that night?

The claustrophobic atmosphere is intensified by the clever use of tight spaces and immersive cinematography, which captures the audience in an unrelenting build-up of suspense. But The Very Last Christmas is not just about the fight for survival: beneath the snow, deeper questions emerge. When everything unnecessary is swept away, what truly remains of us? Amidst the cold, darkness, and secrets that surface, the fate of the characters remains in the balance until the very last breath. That Christmas night will mark a new birth… or will it truly be The Very Last Christmas?

Filmed on a shoestring budget of 14,000 Swiss francs, the film is an extraordinary example of creative ingenuity. Shot in a real alpine chalet in just one week, the production gives the story a palpable realism, turning the natural environment into a fifth character: beautiful but ruthless. With limited resources and a small crew, Fust and Engin have crafted a gripping cinematic experience, proving that passion and creativity can overcome any production challenge.