Flickerfest - Pilè (Little Bird)
PILÈ (‘Little Bird’) is a short drama that captures a moment in a boy’s life where his masculinity and morality are in opposition, and the life or death of a lizard is in his hands.
Interview with Writer/Director Tony Radevski
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
PILÈ (Little Bird) is a short drama that captures a moment in a boy’s life where his masculinity and morality are in opposition, and the life or death of a lizard is in his hands.
The inspiration for the film comes from an experience I had as a kid on my uncle and auntie’s farm. It was one of those seminal childhood moments that helps define your morality. In that instance, I made the wrong choice.
The film is me trying to re-write history and correct it.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This film plays on elements of magical realism, which I'm really loving at the moment! The combination of raw gritty-realism, with a heightened sense of mystery and the touch of the unreal, provides for compelling narratives. I am inspired and excited by this kind of elevated drama and hope audiences will be too. You'll also get an insight into a different culture, in this case, Macedonian-Australian. And we have a pretty cool lizard in it too!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I grew up as the ‘odd’ kid. I drew portraits and painted, but was athletic and loved to run, fast. I was more effeminate than the other boys and didn’t really fit in. I liked to observe and would often get caught in daydreams and constantly came up with hypotheticals.
I was the only kid with blue eyes and light hair in my dark-featured Macedonian-language class. Some of my family thought I acted ‘too Australian’ and not ‘Macedonian enough’. I adapted and learned how to fit in, eventually. I saw this dichotomy as an unfortunate curse, one that I had to carefully ‘manage’.
The Alex character in Pilè has that same quiet and contemplative nature, and less masculine than those around him. He is very different to his family. Much softer in nature. He is longing for a connection and wanting to fit in, but can't identify with and support the brutality that surrounds him. We get a sense that he yearns for closeness with his dad, but ultimately refuses it on his dad's terms.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As I was mimicking events in real life, the story was driven by key moments that actually happened to me and I added dramatic flourishes along the way. I wanted the film to have a dreamlike nature to it, reminiscent of a memory. These evolved over time and we amended them based on locations and VFX.
I was also working the script towards a particular ending... which was great, to have a conclusion that you're happy with. This approach also came with challenges and certain limitations. But I was determined for my main character to do the RIGHT THING in this adapted version of my childhood experience!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film premiered in competition at the Oldenburg International Film Festival in Germany at the end of 2017, and we had such wonderful comments from the festival organisers and its audiences. It's always terrifying, but thrilling, getting that first response! But it's been positive for the most part!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Whenever an audience watches any film, they bring into it their own experiences and viewing sensibilities. And sometimes differences of opinions... and that delights me!
Pilè is a rather quiet and straight narrative compared to some of my other work, so there is less conjecture.
There is usually very minimal dialogue in my films, and you're often reading the subtext. Audiences have made interesting commentary about why the main character behaves in the way he does, which I didn't expect. They have also made keen observations that go beyond the text and screen, and I love that!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Like most filmmakers, I would love for my work to get to audiences and hope those audiences connect with it. Pilè is a personal narrative, and a gentle one for the most part. It explores masculinity and morality within a brief childhood event, in an Eastern European / Australian context.
Who do you need to come on board to amplify this film’s message?
Pilè is in its film festival infancy, so I would love for more festivals who are keen to see personal narratives play out in a different culture/setting, check it out!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
A positive one! ;) I want to leave audiences feeling good at the end of Pilè, which hasn't been the concluding sentiments of many of my previous films!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How far are you willing to go find a connection and how much are you willing to risk to lose it?
Would you like to add anything else?
I've screened a couple of films at Flickerfest and its audiences are so wonderful and receptive, so I am looking forward to seeing it in my hometown!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Early last year, I attended Berlinale Talents, an initiative of the Berlin Film Festival, and my short script, RISEN, was selected for development in their Project Lab.
Upon returning to Australia, we were lucky enough to receive support from Screen Australia to shoot the short film and also develop the TV series.
So at the moment, we are finishing up post production on the short, and about to move into development for the series, which is very exciting!!
Interview: January 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Pilè (Little Bird)
PILÈ (‘Little Bird’) is a short drama that captures a moment in a boy’s life where his masculinity and morality are in opposition, and the life or death of a lizard is in his hands.
Length: 15 mins
Director: Tony Radevski
Producer: Pete Ireland
Writer: Tony Radevski
Tony Radevski (writer/director)
Tony started in documentary and animation, directing "The Prodigal Son”, "Ephemeral", “Part One: Love” and "Hole". He has more recently taken his hand to directing drama, including the short films "Dedo" and "Pilè" (‘Little Bird’). In 2017, he was selected for Berlinale Talents, an initiative of the Berlin Film Festival. His new drama project, "Risen", was also selected for development in the Berlinale Talents’ Short Film Station. Most of his films make a commentary on social justice issues and often focus on characters searching for a connection.
Pete Ireland (producer):
Pete Ireland is an award winning film producer, writer and director based in Sydney, Australia. His films have been selected for Australian Academy-accredited, FIAPF-accredited and Oscar-accredited film festivals; broadcast on Television in Australia and Europe (Channel 7Two, ABC, OUTTv), and screened in many other film festivals in Australia and overseas.
Key cast:
Zen McGrath, Phoebe Wolfe, Jovana Miletic, Benjamin Winspear, Valentina Apostolovska, Stefo Nantsou
Looking for:
Sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilefilm/
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Flickerfest International Short Film Festival in January