In a rural setting, the bleeding of a pig is depicted plainly, as an autumn ritual. A just and moving tribute to the handing down of actions that, shared across families and generations, also perpetuate true social solidarity.

The greatest documentary filmmakers, through masterful framing and editing, can transform anecdotal events into unpredictable catalysts for reflecting about our world. Bogdan Stefan proves this once again with this work, displaying restraint and sensitivity.

The bountiful harvest that he documents is the ritual bleeding of a pig. In a rural setting, a small community of friends and families gathers. As the children play, the men discuss preparations for the slaughter. Without ever resorting to sensationalism, the director unflinchingly records this traditional act. Training his lens on the slightest details of the barn, he also takes particular interest in the dynamics of the group, made up of all ages and sharing the same passion.

Beyond the act recorded for posterity, the film is a just and moving tribute to the handing down of actions that, shared across families and generations, also perpetuate true social solidarity. The children peek out of the corner of their eyes as the pig bleeds out, while the oldest of the men takes time to teach his son the proper positioning of the knife. Later, a young boy learns how to hook the animal’s hoof. These fleeting moments, delicately observed, coalesce into the portrait of an autumn ritual, showing how it fosters true community living.