The Circle (Der Kreis) from Switzerland portrays the underground homosexual scene in Zurich in the 1950s, which is increasingly under siege. It centers on the love affair between teacher Ernst Ostertag and transvestite performer Robi Rapp. Ernst and Robi are real people, and the dramatic scenes are interspersed with interviews with present-day Ernst and Robi, so the film is actually a hybrid drama and documentary. In fact, when Switzerland legalized same-sex partnerships, Ernst and Robi, by then 73 years old, were given the honor of being the first couple to register.
