Bèstia is a lyrical and unfiltered documentary that follows three hunters from inland Catalonia, whose lives unfold far from urban ideals and the frantic pace of modern life. Filmed in the village of Sant Quirze de Besora, a rural area far removed from the city, the film immerses us in the daily rituals, contradictions, and emotional depth of men who live close to the land and on the fringes of the system.
Palomero is a retired Andalusian who, after a life shaped by work and trouble with the law, spends his final years hunting in the company of a group of young men. His story reflects the contrast between his harsh view of impending death and his deep attachment to life, sharing intimate moments with his family and the animals around him.
Bernat, a young hunter and firearms enthusiast, feels increasingly suffocated by village life. Though deeply rooted in local traditions, he yearns for something more—a horizon beyond the mountains—but remains paralyzed by fear of the unknown. He dreams of starting over in a distant country, escaping the pattern that defines him, yet doubts his own strength.
‘Nen,’ as his nickname suggests, is a man who retains a childlike innocence and is surrounded by a hostile environment. Despite his deep connection to nature, his life is marked by stagnation and emotional fragility. Hunting, punk music, dart games, beer, and his animals are his only refuge, creating a small world tailored to himself.
Bèstia does not seek to judge or provoke, but to observe with calm and depth. Through an intimate and unembellished lens, the film explores the contradictions of rural masculinity: between violence and tenderness, instinct and vulnerability, loneliness and brotherhood. At its core, it is the journey of a young vegan filmmaker delving into the most primal layers of human identity, asking what remains when social norms, ambitions, and ideologies fall apart.
