Year: 1987
Runtime: 100 mins
Language: Serbo-Croatian
Director: Petar Lalović
Being the thirteenth piglet means rejection: a sow with twelve teats cannot nurse the extra newborn, called Gile Baksuz, and most such piglets die. The film portrays this harsh natural reality as a tender love story, when the abandoned piglet finds refuge with a roe deer and her fawn, who care for him.
Get a spoiler-free look at The Vanishing World (1987) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In a quiet countryside where the rhythm of life is dictated by the unyielding cycles of birth and nourishment, a sow with twelve teats faces an impossible dilemma when a thirteenth piglet arrives. This extra newborn, Gile Baksuz, is instantly marked as an outlier—an orphan in the very nest that should protect him. The film opens with a hushed reverence for the farm’s ordinary hardships, letting the viewer feel the weight of a world where survival often hinges on a single, unforgiving detail.
The audience is invited to linger on the raw intimacy of Gile Baksuz’s early moments, his soft squeals echoing against the straw‑lined walls while the sow, torn between instinct and inability, must turn away. The camera captures this quiet abandonment with a lyricism that feels both stark and tender, hinting at the fragile line between nature’s cruelty and the yearning for compassion. Even in his isolation, the piglet’s curiosity and quiet resilience become a subtle pulse that drives the story forward.
From the edge of the meadow, a lone roe deer watches the stray piglet with a mixture of wariness and unexpected empathy. When her fawn stumbles upon Gile Baksuz, the two species forge an unlikely sanctuary, sharing the simple comforts of shade, warm bodies, and the unspoken language of caretaking. Their interaction is rendered with a gentle, almost mythic quality, suggesting that love can bloom in the most improbable corners of the wild. The deer and her fawn move with a poised grace that contrasts the farm’s rigid order, offering Gile Baksuz a fleeting sense of belonging.
The film’s tone hovers between tender melancholy and quiet wonder, painting a portrait of a world where harsh reality and fragile affection coexist. Through lingering shots of dew‑kissed grasses, rustling leaves, and the soft glow of dawn, the story promises an exploration of connection that transcends species. It is a meditation on the possibility of redemption in an indifferent world, inviting viewers to wonder whether the vanishing of one fate might herald the emergence of another, more hopeful one.
Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:53
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Unsettling stories where a methodical pace builds to an inevitable, bleak conclusion.If you liked the methodical tension and psychological dread of The Vanishing World, explore movies with a similar slow burn pace. These films build suspense steadily, often dealing with obsession and bleak outcomes, creating a deeply unsettling viewing experience for fans of heavy, dark thrillers.
Narratives in this thread often follow a linear but deliberate path, starting from a point of normalcy that is gradually eroded by an encroaching threat or a character's obsession. The story unfolds with a sense of inevitable tragedy, focusing on the psychological unraveling of characters as they are drawn towards a grim and inescapable fate.
These movies are grouped by their shared commitment to a measured, steady pacing that intensifies suspense, a consistently dark tone exploring the depths of human psychology, and a high emotional weight that culminates in a bleak resolution, creating a cohesive experience of escalating dread.
Stories that delve into the nature of evil, loss, and existential dread through crime.For viewers who appreciated the philosophical depth and exploration of evil in The Vanishing World, this collection highlights similar movies. These crime-driven stories focus on psychological manipulation, existential themes, and the heavy emotional weight of loss, perfect for those seeking thought-provoking and dark narratives.
The narrative pattern often involves a central, traumatic event—like an abduction or betrayal—that propels the story. This event serves as a catalyst for a deeper inquiry into morality and the human capacity for evil, frequently presented through dual perspectives or a character's obsessive search for answers that leads only to darker truths.
These films are united by their primary focus on philosophical themes surrounding evil and existentialism, wrapped within a dark, suspenseful narrative. They share a high emotional weight stemming from themes of loss and betrayal, and a moderate complexity that allows for psychological depth without overwhelming the core tension.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Vanishing World in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Vanishing World is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of The Vanishing World, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Vanishing World with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Vanishing World. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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