The Tale of Silyan
12A
Why watch?
“The Tale of Silyan is an incredibly unique documentary – one of the most creative, poetic and entrancing I’ve ever seen. The structure and storytelling style make it feel like a narrative film, whilst still being grounded in real lives and very significant environmental and economic issues. It’s a joy to witness the relationship between Nikola and his wife, Jana, and Nikola with the injured stork he adopts. Both are so loving, gentle and tender. It’s rare to see a stork and a human interacting in this way, but intimacy between older couples is rare to see on screen, too, so both are heartening.”
Martha Boyd,
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Hyde Park Pick: The Tale of Silyan
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.