Hen

Synopsis

Told entirely from the unique perspective of its avian protagonist, Hen follows a resilient Leghorn chicken who escapes the brutal conditions of an industrial farm to find refuge in a crumbling Greek seaside taverna. As she navigates the local pecking order and fiercely guards her clutch of eggs from predators, she becomes an unwitting, beady-eyed witness to a dark human tragedy unfolding in the background. The family-run restaurant doubles as a waystation for a violent people-smuggling operation, drawing the bird into a world of greed, exploitation, and the migrant crisis. Directed by visionary Hungarian filmmaker György Pálfi, the film is a bold, allegorical drama that filters human cruelty and moral compromise through a quest for survival. Blending dark comedy with poignant social commentary, it offers a startlingly original look at motherhood and perseverance that challenges the boundaries between species. This experimental yet deeply moving fable serves as a devastating witness to the darker recesses of humanity.