György Pálfi’s “Hen”: A Hungarian Exile’s Greek-Set Chicken Film

Director György Pálfi’s feature *Hen* follows a black hen that escapes a Greek slaughterhouse, is rescued by seaside restaurateur Giorgos, and then witnesses his involvement in a people-smuggling scheme that draws in his granddaughter, daughter and her boyfriend.

The Guardian

Pálfi left Hungary after Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule halted independent film funding, moving first to Mexico and then to Greece. He co-wrote the screenplay with Zsófia Ruttkay. Eight hens—Eszti, Szandi, Feri, Enci, Eti, Eniko, Nóra and Anett—were trained, and Greek actors play the human roles.

The Guardian

Each hen received two months of training for specific actions. The crew shot 50 script days in a 35-day schedule, giving the chickens priority on set. No CGI was used for the birds; visual effects only removed the animal trainer. Shots were framed at the hen’s eye level, and a leashed fox was later edited out. Pálfi said the bird’s viewpoint forces viewers to confront the moral dimensions of smuggling and authoritarian rule.

The Guardian

Pálfi has publicly called Orbán “not a real prime minister” and said the former leader “supported only those who voted for him.” He noted that the new government controls 70 % of parliament, raising concerns about concentrated power. He says the film’s core message is that “humans can make moral decisions, but often too late,” and hopes Hungary’s new administration will restore artistic freedom so he can work domestically again.

The Guardian

• “When we find this very small chicken meets with a huge social problem, then it can be a good movie,” — György Pálfi, Director

The Guardian

• “If you can go with the chicken after the first 15 or 20 minutes,” says Pálfi, “then somehow you become the chicken, and people become a higher level, like the gods of ancient Greek mythology.” — György Pálfi, Director

The Guardian

• “The chicken needs to be a chicken. Sometimes we play with what a chicken can think, but we try very carefully to use a chicken as a chicken.” — György Pálfi, Director

The Guardian

• “It was hard for the actors to realise they were last in line,” — György Pálfi, Director

The Guardian

Hen juxtaposes comic moments with stark depictions of factory farming and smuggling, prompting reflection on powerlessness in animals and migrants. Pálfi intends to continue his animal-themed trilogy with a monkey film set in India, a Hungarian outlaw story, and hopes to resume filmmaking in Budapest.

The Guardian