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Chickens Star in Greek Tragedy Film by Exile Director
7 May
Summary
- Film directed by György Pálfi, an exiled Hungarian filmmaker.
- The movie tells a Greek tragedy from a hen's perspective.
- Eight trained chickens were used as the lead actress.
Exiled Hungarian filmmaker György Pálfi's latest movie, "Hen," offers a unique cinematic experience told entirely from the perspective of a factory-farmed chicken. Pálfi, driven from his homeland by political conditions, sought a universal story, settling on the life of a hen escaping industrial farming in Greece.
The film intertwines the hen's journey with a human drama, as a struggling restaurateur becomes entangled in a people-smuggling operation. This narrative unfolds through the beady eyes of the hen, offering a novel viewpoint on human foibles and moral failings.
To bring the story to life, eight identical hens were meticulously trained for their roles. Each chicken demonstrated distinct skills, allowing director Pálfi to select the most suitable "actress" for each scene. This unconventional casting led Pálfi to adopt a more classical Hollywood storytelling approach.
"Hen" uses a low camera angle to mimic the hen's eye level, creating an immersive experience without CGI for the animal actors. The film aims to highlight the brutality of factory farming and the consequences of moral compromise, prompting reflection on human behavior and societal issues.
