“Silyan wasn’t accepted amongst the other storks because he was different from them.” National Geographic’s newest documentary “The Tale of Silyan” explores the heartwarming story of a down on his luck farmer’s unlikely bond with an injured stork.
While chatting with On The Red Carpet, director Tamara Kotevska revealed the meaning behind the title, “‘The Tale of Silyan’ is a very popular tale in Macedonia. It’s (as) popular as Snow White, you know. And uh, we grew up with this tale. This is the first story I heard from my farming grandparents.” The story about Silyan stayed with Kotevska all these years but actually wasn’t the original idea for her documentary.
While the tale is “the key identity of (her) culture and (her) land,” it wasn’t until main character Nikola, a farmer in rural North Macedonia, discovered the wounded stork that she connected the two stories together. “Once Nikola found the stork and started living with the stork, it was only natural to, to get back to it and find the meaning, rediscover the meaning of it.”
“The Tale of Silyan” won the Best Film Cinema and Arts Award at the 82nd Venice Film Festival and is now getting Oscar buzz. The award-winning film brought a full circle life moment for Kotevska, “We’ve been a lot under the influence of National Geographic. I mean this is how we both grew up, with this literature. Uh, with its films.” “It’s something that inspired us to live the way of life that we live today. And, I think that’s…that’s the greatness of it. That there is such a brand on this planet that inspires young filmmakers, you know, to do this kind of courageous moves.”
Cinematographer Jean Dakar echoed Kotevska’s sentiments, “So, it’s great actually. It felt full circle when National Geographic decided to buy the film.”
“The Tale of Silyan” is available to watch in select U.S. theaters now.
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