Stories from the Chestnut Woods

Once upon a time, in a far-off land, lived an elderly husband and wife. The old woman fell sick and died, and the old man found himself alone. Pondering the life he had lived, he met a young woman, a chestnut seller who desperately wanted to leave home for a better life overseas. Surrounded by the rudimentary nature these lonely souls share fond memories as well as contemplations of their futures. Gregor Božič’s first feature is a poetic introspection of a tiny community on the former border between Italy and Yugoslavia.  The film was inspired by three stories by Chekhov, the play Requiem by Hanoch Levin, and local folktales. The result is a captivating gem, winner of the Best First Feature in Tallinn’s Black Nights Festival.