"The Boat Is Full" confronts a little-spoken of aspect of World War II: "neutral" Switzerland's refusal to provide refuge for Jews and other political dissidents escaping from Nazi Germany -- a policy that doomed thousands to death. In 1942, Swiss authorities closed their borders and announced that their small country, like a tiny and too-crowded lifeboat, was full. But when Anna Flueckiger meets a small band of German refugees who managed to steal into Switzerland, she simply does not have the heart to turn them in. She gives them shelter -- until her secret gets out and Swiss guards arrive to escort the group back to Germany. Now Anna has a choice: to be true to her conscience and defy the authorities and the law... or follow orders even if it means her new friends will almost certainly die.
In order to stand a better chance of escaping, a group of people pose as a family and leave Nazi Germany for Switzerland. When their deception is uncovered, they struggle to hold on to the few freedoms they have left. Winner of the Silver Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival.