While Nikola cares for the injured bird and helps it recover, an unexpected friendship develops between man and animal. A bond that becomes so strong that Nikola decides to plow his land again to make it fertile.
In The Tale of Silyan, Nikola's life miraculously coincides with a 17th-century Macedonian folk tale about Silyan, a farmer's son who is cursed by his father and turned into a lonely stork. The result is a deeply moving, intimate documentary about the quiet power of connection, resilience, and hope, in which director Tamara Kotevska also addresses themes such as climate change and economic migration. Kotevska, known for the Oscar-nominated Honeyland, once again amazes with The Tale of Silyan with her characteristic rich storytelling and enchanting, warm images. Her documentary had a successful premiere in Venice, receiving many rave reviews from the international press.