From the Oscar-nominated director of <i>Honeyland</i> comes a poignant and visually arresting story set in the heart of a rural farming community. Nikola, a farmer grappling with the harsh realities of new government policies, finds himself unable to sell his land or crops. When his family leaves in search of a better life abroad, Nikola takes a job as a landfill attendant, where he encounters the injured white stork Silyan. As he nurses the bird back to health, an unlikely bond forms between man and animal. The result is a deeply moving film that touches on climate change, economic migration, resilience and the quiet power of connection. Experience the magic this Christmas in a story that reminds us of hope and renewal in the most unexpected places.
Noted as one of the best documentaries of the year, <i>The Tale of Silyan</i> draws inspiration from a centuries-old Macedonian folktale, collected by prominent Bulgarian/Macedonian folklorist Marko Tsepenkov, about a boy, Siljan, who after arguing with his father is turned into a stork by a magical curse. The tale then explores Siljan's new connection to nature as he struggles to regain his human form and learns from his experiences as a stork.DocumentaryPT1H20M12A2025-12-12