Jacob Schmidli was tragically executed in 1747 outside the city of Lucerne. First strangled and then burned, the aim was for nothing to remain of him after the verdict of the then Lucerne authorities. As a religious dissenter, he was seen as a threat to the state and the common good in the Ancien Régime, even though he was simply a "quiet man in the countryside." In a church- and local-history-focused film project, the case of Schmidlin is explored in all its complexity, scientifically and historically grounded. Connections to the present day are made. It deals not only with denunciation, heresy accusations, moral defamation, and legal arbitrariness but, much more, with the search for answers to fundamental religious questions in life. Schmidlin and his followers were searching for a deeper spirituality.

In addition to the film, a book has been published by TVZ Verlag. It systematically and scientifically uncovers the harmful connections that led to the judicial murder of Schmidli. With exclusive material, the book sheds light on the mechanisms within the Lucerne state, the role of the church and politics. Letters, interrogation protocols, and newspaper clippings give shape to both the perpetrators and the victims. This allows for a nuanced evaluation of the events, beyond clichés and prejudices. A picture of the time and the morals of that era emerges, which isn't all that different from today. The execution of the last heretic was not that long ago – and its consequences are still visible today.

The story of Jacob Schmidli has almost been forgotten. With our film and now book project, we want to bring a piece of Swiss history back to life.