‘Milky brother’ is a story of 10-year old boy Seto, who lives in a small village with his family. His mother is pregnant and he can't wait to welcome his little brother to this world. Unfortunately the baby dies after the labor, while Seto’s mother falls very ill. Old shepherd Razmik visits the family one day with a newborn lamb: feeding tiny animal helps sick woman to heal and everything comes back to normal. Everything except Seto, who has trouble accepting his ‘milky brother’.
- We had two lambs playing the ‘Milky brother’: Aycho and Drop – explains Alicja Kizinska, Polish production manager – Aycho was an orphan, we bought it and took it to the professional trainers, where lamb spent four months. When filming ended, it was adopted by child actor Manuk, who plays Seto in our movie.
- ‘Milky brother’ is the first Polish-Armenian coproduction and we are very proud of it – says Joanna Szymanska, head of production at Wajda Studio. – The conditions were very challenging, we were shooting at remote locations,but it helped us to create the atmosphere of seclusion.
- The theme of the film suggested its form: I chose minimalistic narrative style and means typical for documentaries – explains director, Vahram Mkhitaryan, who developed ‘Milky brother’ at Wajda School.
Mkhitaryan graduated from University in Armenia and Wajda School (Development Lab and Dok Pro programs). He directed many social commercials and tv-documentaries.
‘Milky brother’ is produced within ’30 minutes’program , run by Studio Munka and supported by Polish Television and Polish Film Institute. Wajda Studio acts as co-producer and executive producer. The other co-producers are Warsaw based rental company MX35 and Hy Pictures from Armenia. The film is co-financed by Polish Agora Foundation and Armenian Kinocentrum.
WAJDA SCHOOL | WAJDA STUDIO
more than a film school | more than a film studio
Wajda School has over 10 years. Was founded in Warsaw by Andrzej Wajda and Wojciech Marczewski. It’s based on film groups tradition and experience – method of group working and co-operation of different generations. We offer a unique combination of production and education for film professionals.
Since 2011 Wajda and Marczewski have also started the production company - Wajda Studio. We focus on development stage and support our directors with artistic supervision from the best Polish and European filmmakers. We are looking for author- driven feature, documentary and short film projects which bring up contemporary issues. We are concentrated on international cooperation and co-productions.
The main Studio’s and School’s mission is to search for new talents among debutants. The most interesting young directors from Poland, but also from the whole Europe, has developed and produced their films here.
In our filmography we have more than 70 documentaries and short fictions, more than 200 students shorts. We have had screenings and awards at the festivals such as Berlinale, San Sebastian, Karlovy Vary, Hot Docs, IDFA and DokLeipzig. Wajda Studio’s documentary ‘Paparazzi’ was nominated for European Film Awards. The Studio is also ‘Christening’ by Marcin Wrona co-producer. In 2012 there will be in theatres a new Wajda Studio feature - ‘Sanctuary’ by Norah McGettigan, which is co-production between Ireland and Poland.
