On this episode of The Sounds of Film, Swiss filmmaker Ramon Zürcher joins Tom Needham to discuss his haunting new feature, The Sparrow in the Chimney. As the final installment in his acclaimed “animal trilogy” — following The Strange Little Cat and The Girl and the Spider — this powerful psychodrama delves into the emotional undercurrents of a family reunion that unearths long-buried trauma and tensions. With its blend of surrealism, poetic intimacy, and flashes of dark humor, the film paints a searing portrait of repressed desires and unraveling relationships over the course of a single transformative weekend.

Ramon Zürcher, born in 1982, studied visual arts at the Bern Academy of the Arts before earning his film directing degree at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin. His debut feature, The Strange Little Cat (2013), premiered at the Berlinale and screened at more than 80 international festivals, winning numerous awards. He followed this with The Girl and the Spider (2021), which received the Berlinale Best Director award and FIPRESCI prize, and ranked on Cahiers du Cinéma’s Best of the Year list. With The Sparrow in the Chimney, Zürcher continues his signature exploration of confined spaces, familial dynamics, and the inner lives of women in crisis.

In our conversation, Zürcher discusses his unique approach to visual storytelling, his fascination with domestic space and psychological tension, and the personal themes — including his queer identity — that shaped the film’s emotional core. He also shares insights into casting, working with his twin brother Silvan, and the cinematic influences that shaped his vision, from Bergman to Lynch.

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