A Few Mornings, an Evening

Set on a small farm in the Czech countryside, a Few Mornings, an Evening offers a close and patient study of the interactions and dynamics between humans and the animals employed in human agriculture. As the film captures small moments of wonder and the subtle changes occurring over days, we witness humans, dogs, sheep, chickens, goats and several other animals engage in their daily affairs. With the introduction of a male goat to the farm, a mating ritual briefly ensues, but in the end, everything seems cyclical once again. When observed closely, narratives unfold and the animals reveal their unique characters to us. This is reflected in the final credits too, in which the animals take up an equal amount of space as the humans involved in the film’s production. Shot with a great deal of affection and tenderness by visual artist Astrid van Nimwegen, who lives and travels in a self-converted van, a Few Mornings, an Evening invites viewers to reflect on our relationship with animals and at the same time, serves as a meditative escape from our hectic daily lives. (International Film Festival Rotterdam)