17/07/2026 - Ala Nunu probes the relationship between human civilisation and animal nature in her newest short, told in three fragmented stories

Portugal-based Polish animator Ala Nunu, known for her award-winning works Ahead (2021) and Telsche (2023), has presented her latest short animation, In the Beginning, co-written with Sophie Colfer, in the international competition at Fest Anča, Žilina, Slovakia. Tinted in distinct shades of crimson, turquoise and mustard, the film is divided into three different stories, each illustrating how humans establish anthropocentric narratives in their interactions with different creatures.

The first story begins with a space probe named Beresheet, where a scientific explorer is extracting human DNA and sending it to the Moon for extraterrestrial colonisers. Rather than completing the initial aim, ironically, the team accidentally releases sub-microscopic tardigrades that become the satellite’s first known inhabitants. The second segment follows the infamous intercontinental trade of birds-of-paradise in the 16th century. Believed to be an example of otherworldly beings, amputated specimens were exported to Europe and became symbols of freedom, happiness and longevity. The last segment takes place in Hong Kong during COVID-19, in which people mislabel one of the main causes of the pandemic. Such beliefs lead to a large-scale cull of rodents, reflecting the ruthlessness of human society at the expense of self-protection.

While the film appears to be quite ambitious, with stories ranging across different regions in the world over centuries, the connections between them and to what extent they parallel each other are questionable. The fast montage switching between every section renders the narrative more fragmented, making the storytelling less engaging.

Ultimately, the stories serve mainly as a metaphor for how animals in nature are forced into serving the benefit of mankind. To explain the socio-cultural contexts of the images, Nunu relies on voice-over at the end of the film – rather than letting the stories speak for themselves.

Nevertheless, In the Beginning acts as a strong signal and reminder of the perilous situation into which animals are put. By denying the dominance of human beings over nature, it prompts awareness of animal protection and environmental sustainability. The film even implies an alternative future possibility of mutually beneficial human-nature co-existence.