– Mária Kralovič’s animated short follows a middle-aged female tourist encountering the wilderness and finding her own agency
A French-Slovakian-Czech co-production directed by Slovakian director Mária Kralovič, Tourists presents an animated story with a feminist gaze. It’s the story of Hana, a middle-aged female tourist who, trapped in a stifling marriage, finds liberation when forced to struggle for survival alone in a remote forest.
Selected for the Slovak competition at Fest Anča in Žilina, this 14-minute film shows the audience the importance of claiming one’s own agency, whether in the intimacy of a marriage or in a relationship with the self and the natural world.
The story opens with a shot of a beehive nestled inside a tree, into which Hana reaches to taste the honey. Almost immediately, she is pulled away from it by the alarming sound of a whistle. This device is used by her husband Kornel, along with a map of the forest, to dictate the terms of their journey together.
After securing a spot to set up a fire and eat, Hana wanders off to find a place to pee near a river, only to be swept away by a sudden burst of wind. She is unable to find her way back to her husband; a violent storm further hinders her attempts.
At first frightened by the hostility of the natural world, the woman finds herself gradually disarmed by the animals that inhabit it – their presence awakening her curiosity and sexual desire. Seemingly liberated from the constraints of her marriage, she gradually loosens up and begins to explore her body in relation to her surroundings.
The story takes on a “girl boss” tone, reinforced by the presence of American rap star Doja Cat on the soundtrack, giving the idea that Hana is confident enough to survive in nature on her own. Aware of her own agency and not afraid of losing it, the newly awakened woman discovers her place within the world.
Kralovič crafts a fun story to watch by highlighting the theme of self-acceptance and self-love as something positive and important. Within its brief runtime, Tourists conveys a universal resonance: we see what agency and independence can bring to a seemingly oppressed individual.
