The Mountain Won't Move

France, North Macedonia2025documentary123'The Balkans in Focus

In the high mountains of North Macedonia, five brothers of different ages live their single lives in a simple hut among a flock of sheep and shepherding dogs. The boys take care of the animals, far away from their family and without permanent contact with the world. They grow up to the rhythm of work and everyday challenges posed by this harsh environment. Observing the brothers from dawn to dusk, we begin to understand their mutual relations and the significance of closeness to the animals that help them to survive. In this isolated world, however, dreams of what might await them once they come down from the mountains keep recurring like a refrain.