Storks as man’s new best friend? It sounds unconventional, but in The Tale of Silyan, this unlikely bond takes center stage—and it’s anything but a downer. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the film tackles heavy themes like climate change and economic hardship, its most powerful moments come from the unexpected relationship between a lonely farmer and a wounded stork. Could this be a metaphor for humanity’s connection to nature? You decide.
Directed by Oscar nominee Tamara Kotevska (Honeyland), this lyrical documentary returns to her North Macedonia roots to tell the story of Nikola Conev, a 60-year-old farmer battling harsh environmental conditions and government policies to keep his family afloat. When his family leaves for better opportunities abroad, Nikola finds solace in an injured stork named Silyan. Their bond becomes the heart of the film, offering a glimmer of hope amidst universal struggles faced by rural communities worldwide.
Kotevska and her longtime collaborator, cinematographer Jean Dakar, initially set out to study storks’ shifting migration patterns and their growing reliance on landfills. ‘The storks led us back to the human world,’ Kotevska explains. ‘Their decline mirrors our own struggles as humans.’ With a map of stork nests provided by North Macedonia’s environmental organization, the duo spent years tracking these majestic birds, blending nature documentary techniques with intimate character study.
And this is the part most people miss: Dakar reveals they filmed three generations of storks, who grew accustomed to their presence. ‘They were completely unfazed by us,’ he says. ‘One generation literally grew up with us.’ This trust allowed for breathtakingly close shots, capturing the storks’ timeless beauty against the backdrop of modernity. But it wasn’t easy—the entire filming process spanned three years, much of it unfunded. ‘We slept in a van, lost in the wilderness,’ Kotevska recalls. ‘It required immense commitment and self-funding until producers came on board.’
The filmmakers’ dedication paid off when they met Nikola, whose family’s gradual departure is portrayed with subtle yet devastating intimacy. Dakar notes, ‘We broke the barrier with Nikola and his wife. The more time we spent, the more natural our collaboration became.’ This mirrors their approach with the storks, blurring the lines between human and animal storytelling.
In one unforgettable scene, Nikola nurses Silyan back to health, rediscovering his own purpose in the process. Kotevska describes a ‘miracle’ day when Dakar captured a flock of storks flying from a landfill to Nikola’s land after spotting Silyan—a hopeful echo of when Nikola first found the injured bird.
Here’s the thought-provoking question: Is this film just a beautiful story, or does it challenge us to rethink our relationship with nature and community? Dakar hints at the unseen effort behind the scenes: ‘What you see is just the tip of the iceberg. Ninety percent is research—observing behavior, feeding times, and more. It might seem boring, but I loved it.’
This story first appeared in The Hollywood Reporter’s December issue. To dive deeper into such compelling narratives, subscribe here.
