Drežnica Goat and Its People (Drežniška koza in njeni ljudje)

Slovenia, 2025, 51'
Directed by: Marko Kumer Murč

Cankarjev dom Cinema Drežnica Goat and Its People (Drežniška koza in njeni ljudje)

Producers: Marko Kumer, Mojca Pernat
Written by: Simon Horvat
Cinematography: Mitja Mlakar
Camera operators: Mitja Mlakar, Marko Kumer Murč, Katrin Weissler, Gregor Ravnik
Editing: Ambrož Pivk
Production: Rusaalka, Film Factory

The Drežnica goat is critically endangered. Along with this goat – the only indigenous Slovenian breed that thrives on the steep slopes of Northern Primorska – the nation’s biodiversity is at risk, as well as the ethnographic, cultural, and spiritual heritage of the local area. The extinction of the Drežnica goat would mark the end of a generations-long harmony between humans and nature, the cooperation of local communities, and an agrarian model that we now recognize as the foundation of sustainable development.
The film features never-before-seen documentary footage of the goats in their natural habitat on inaccessible Alpine cliffs, alongside the stories of locals who, using their own skills and the ancestral wisdom passed down through generations, strive to avert the inevitable.

Drežnica goats live in hierarchical communities; they are highly social and learn from one another. For example, older goats know exactly which shaded areas hold the heaviest morning dew. […] Genetic research has shown just how special the Drežnica goat is and how it differs from other breeds. Preserving this genetic diversity will be crucial for sustainable farming in the future, especially in light of climate change.
A time may soon come when our traditional knowledge of food production will prove invaluable. This species is unmatched in its ability to survive in such an inhospitable environment. Moreover, these goats feed on mountain flowers – you can’t get healthier cheese than this.
Marko Kumer Murč, Simon Horvat

Marko Kumer Murč is a director and producer specializing in documentary films and award-winning short films. He is the founder of the production companies EnaBanda and Rusaalka. The initiator of the Kratka Scena screenwriting workshop, he is also a co-founder of Prodorni producenti, a young producers’ association.

Filmography:
Zelena utopija (Utopia in Green, 2013)
Mesto svetlobe (City of Light, 2017)
Jezik enakopravnosti (Language of Equality, 2019)
Druga stran cevi (The Other Side of the Pipe, 2023)
Janko (2023)
Drežniška koza in njeni ljudje (Drežnica Goat and Its People, 2025)

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