"Hen", a Daring International Feature from Acclaimed Director György Pálfi, Comes to the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
The 2026 Monmouth Film Festival (MFF) will present Hen, a visually inventive and thought-provoking international feature from filmmaker György Pálfi, as part of its 2026 program. The film will screen at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ on Saturday, May 30 at 12:50 PM.
Hen tells the unexpected and deeply resonant story of a farm hen who escapes captivity
and finds refuge in the courtyard of a crumbling restaurant. There, she discovers love, navigates a fragile social hierarchy, and fights to protect her eggs from a greedy owner. Her journey—both droll and profoundly moving—mirrors the quiet struggles, compromises, and emotional realities of human life.
Drawing on the structural traditions of ancient Greek tragedy, Pálfi crafts a multi-layered narrative that explores a central philosophical question: can individuals be absolved of moral responsibility if they are merely passive participants in unfolding events? The film presents intertwined perspectives—one human, one animal—challenging audiences to reconsider whose story takes precedence, and what happens when humanity is no longer at the center.
True to Pálfi’s boundary-pushing style, Hen was created using real trained animals rather than CGI or artificial enhancement. The production worked with multiple hens, each contributing unique behaviors and abilities, resulting in an organic and immersive cinematic experience that blurs the line between fiction and reality.
An international co-production spanning Hungary, Germany, and Greece, Hen stands as a bold example of contemporary world cinema—blending narrative, experimental form, and philosophical inquiry into a singular and unforgettable film experience.
As part of this year’s international feature lineup, Hen reflects the Monmouth Film Festival’s commitment to showcasing innovative global voices and films that challenge perspective while engaging audiences in meaningful and unique ways.
To follow all program announcements and purchase tickets, visit: https://monmouthfilmfestival.eventive.org/schedule
To view the full MFF 2026 film lineup, visit: https://www.monmouthfilm.org/films
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