The Boat is Full (1981)

During World War II, ‘neutral’ Switzerland severely limited the number of refugees it would accept, even giving preference to Germany deserters over similar Jewish individuals, claiming as the title suggests that the lifeboat they were providing was too full. Six individuals take the chance to jump off a German train that is momentarily detained in Switzerland and seek temporary refuge at a village remote inn. The group try to work themselves into more acceptable family groups in a desperate hope that they can figure out the perfect combination that’ll allow them to stay instead of being returned to certain death in Germany. Most importantly the film calls into question the idea of neutrality, establishing that a side is always being chosen if one lets atrocities to happen. 

Oscar Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film