Germany | Switzerland 2026
Opening March 19, 2026

Directed by: Markus Welter
Writing credits: Jan Poldervaart
Principal actors:   Paco von Wyss, Alma Büchenbacher, Max Hubacher, Christoph Gaugler, Ulrich Tukur, Carlos Leal, Mael Gallati, Yousef 'Joe’ Sweid

It’s the early 1800s, the time of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. Georg (Paco von Wyss) and his older brother Alfons (Orell Bergkraut) distance themselves from this conflict by going from Switzerland to Italy. This takes them up and over the mountains. Georg becomes ill. Alfons continues his travels alone, leaving Georg with nuns who care for him in their cloister. Soon Georg becomes friends with a young girl Resi (Alma Büchenbacher). Her father is in charge of Saint Bernard dogs who rescue people suffering from accidents due to landslides, i.e., avalanches. Georg especially loves the puppies, even sleeping with them and giving them milk. One small Saint Bernard is weak, and he is luckily saved in the end by Georg. He names him Barry. We observe Barry growing bigger (played by dogs of various ages), always at the side of Georg who finally gets to go to school and learns how to read, e.g., a book about Italy. Soldiers arrive and capture the dogs. Luckily, Georg is able to retrieve Barry.

There is continuous action sometimes involving a wolf, as well as a cave and bonfires. For at least ninety of the ninety-seven minutes the screen is mostly white, full of snow-filled mountains and the frequent avalanches. This is a film for the whole family from children aged six to grandparents over eighty. It is based on a true story about a Saint Bernard which rescued forty people between 1800-1812. We experience actor Ulrich Tukur, one of Germany’s most successful actors with a long history of over fifty films, as well as an equal number of TV appearances, including the series Tatort. He is a talented musician and has won over twenty-six prizes in various categories. In Mein Freund Barry he is the abbot, or head, of the cloister where Georg stays. Also fun to experience is fifteen-year-old actor, Paco von Wyss, who wasn’t even planning on becoming an actor. Luckily, he accepted the role of Georg and became an immediate success in this, his first film. (Becky T.)