In 2020, a rooster escapes in Békéscsaba, Hungary. For four years, the locals care for him as a beloved symbol of hope and unity – until his sudden, mysterious death shatters the community, replacing harmony with suspicion and division.
In southeastern Hungary lies the small town of Békéscsaba, where poverty, loneliness, and political division shape everyday life. On a cold Saturday in December 2020, a rooster escapes from the market. He settles in a square in the middle of the city and grows into a national hero. Moved by his stubborn longing for freedom, the residents take him under their wing. What begins as a small gesture grows into a feeling of solidarity and hope. But when the rooster dies, theories about his death begin to circulate, and the newly formed community brutally falls apart into distrust and accusations.
Premiered October 11, 2026 on The New York Times' Op-Docs platform
Won Best Short Documentary International Competition - Warsaw International Filmfestival
Won Audience Award Best Short Film - Hot Docs (Toronto, Canada)
Won Best Documentary Zlín Dog - Zlín Film Festival
Official selection documentary competition - Odense Film Festival
Won Best Student Film 2026 - Filmfestival Tegenstroom
Official selection International competition - Tampere Filmfestival
Nominated Best Documentary, Best Film, Best Soundtrack, Best Directing and International Audience Award - Shortcutz Amsterdam
Selection Happy Dox Program - ZagrebDox Documentary Film Festival
Official Selection - Sprektrum FilmFestival
Official selection student competition - Nederlands Filmfestival
Director
Lotte Salomons
Production
Raphael Hogers, Nova Nagel and Kes Raven
Cinematographer
Stern Nordsiek
Production Design
Finn van der Reijden
Edit
Madelief Joore
VFX supervision
Birk Bouman and Eli van Herwaarden
Sound Design
Luc Boymans
Mix
Melle Posthuma de Boer
Set Sound
Sebastiaan Koning
Composer
Jamie Alpherts
Post Production Supervisor
Rik Kornmann
Translator
Levente Vervoort
foley artist
Hannah Abrahams
foley mix
George Ammerlaan
VFX concept artist
Kamran Khan
Comp artist
Birk Bouman
Grader
Tong Qianwei
VPRO & Nederlandse Filmacademie