A peasant woman tends to household chores as her infant daughter Nevena cries uncontrollably. Then, suddenly the bawling stops.
Surprised, the peasant woman turns to find something that makes her gasp in horror.
A hideous old hag sits next to her child.
Naked. With scorched skin. And thin wispy strands of grey hair.
In true fairy tale fashion, a dark covenant is forged between the peasant woman and the witch.
In exchange for letting Nevena live, the mother will hand her over to the old hag once she turns sixteen.
The peasant woman tries to protect her child by hiding her on sacred ground (in a remote cave outside the village).
But sure enough, when the girl comes of age, the witch returns for what she was promised.
The first 20 odd minutes of You Won't Be Alone are absolutely riveting.
Then, the film takes a turn, and although still interesting, never quite rises to the same level.
The witch possesses the power of being able to take on the form of any creature, animal or human, which she bestows upon her ward, before curiously abandoning the girl to her fate.
We track Nevena's journey as she lives several different lives, including a farmer's wife, a dog and a young peasant girl.
A boldly ambitious first feature from Goran Stolevski, the film explores the themes of womanhood and humanity in general, and makes some genuinely insightful observations.
Although the Terrence Malickian 'visual montage with poetic voice over' technique is overused, and some of the characterizations are simplistic, this is a film of undeniable power and beauty.
Surprised, the peasant woman turns to find something that makes her gasp in horror.
A hideous old hag sits next to her child.
Naked. With scorched skin. And thin wispy strands of grey hair.
In true fairy tale fashion, a dark covenant is forged between the peasant woman and the witch.
In exchange for letting Nevena live, the mother will hand her over to the old hag once she turns sixteen.
The peasant woman tries to protect her child by hiding her on sacred ground (in a remote cave outside the village).
But sure enough, when the girl comes of age, the witch returns for what she was promised.
The first 20 odd minutes of You Won't Be Alone are absolutely riveting.
Then, the film takes a turn, and although still interesting, never quite rises to the same level.
The witch possesses the power of being able to take on the form of any creature, animal or human, which she bestows upon her ward, before curiously abandoning the girl to her fate.
We track Nevena's journey as she lives several different lives, including a farmer's wife, a dog and a young peasant girl.
A boldly ambitious first feature from Goran Stolevski, the film explores the themes of womanhood and humanity in general, and makes some genuinely insightful observations.
Although the Terrence Malickian 'visual montage with poetic voice over' technique is overused, and some of the characterizations are simplistic, this is a film of undeniable power and beauty.