In The Tale of Silyan, Oscar-nominated director Tamara Kotevska returns to her North Macedonian roots with a new visionary documentary. The film follows Nicola, a farmer unable to sell his land due to harsh government policies, whose family leaves in search of a better future. Alone, he rescues a wounded white stork he names Silyan.

Their quiet companionship emerges through simple rituals: feeding, tending, and watching flocks in flight. These moments unfold with unspoken grace, embodying care amid loss. Intertwined is a folk tale of a boy turned into a stork after quarreling with his father, mirroring Nicola’s own distance from his son. Through observational lyricism and Jean Dakar’s stirring cinematography, Kotevska creates a visual fable where stillness speaks volumes.

Premiering at Venice and making its Australian debut, the film affirms her unique talent for uncovering mythic depth within everyday gestures and revealing how a single act of kindness can carry profound quiet majesty.