The Tale of Silyan is a wonderful and deeply resonant film from Oscar-nominated director Tamara Kotevska. Set against the stunning landscapes of North Macedonia, this is a contemplative masterpiece that observes profound changes happening to both humans and animals.

It offers real insight into the depopulation of rural Macedonia and the grim economic pressures that force farmer Nikola Conev’s daughter and wife to seek work in Germany. Left behind on his ancestral land, Nikola’s struggle and his quiet sorrow is very moving, a portrait of resilience and loneliness in the face of seismic change.

Woven into Nikola’s personal story is the region’s relationship with storks. These majestic white birds, central to Macedonian folklore, are shown in their symbiotic role, reducing the pests in the farmers’ fields, a relationship that is now disrupted as the fields lie fallow and storks are attracted to more available pickings on landfill sites. When Nikola rescues an injured stork and names him Silyan, their improbable, quiet bond forms the emotional anchor, reflecting Nikola’s own yearning for companionship and purpose. Through stunning cinematography, The Tale of Silyan is a beautiful and timely meditation on tradition, nature, and the cost of survival in a changing world.