Bringing Back Bodrik

Overview

In the Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia, shepherding is a fading way of life. Predators are returning to the forests around the farms, but the old methods of protection have been put aside. Cuvac livestock guard dogs once protected the flocks and are remembered in folklore. Could a look into the past offer a solution for the future? Two shepherds are still using Cuvac dogs to protect their flocks. Living and working in the remote villages under the mountains, they each face threats from different predators. Wolves and bears could attack at any moment, but their Cuvac dogs are always watching. Breeder Jana Goliasova discusses the importance of the breed and its legacy in the Tatras. And scientist Zuzana Buzakova discusses her concerns for the breed's future. Bringing Back Bodrik dives into the parallel history of the Cuvac and that of predators. Through the use of ethnographic films made in the 1930's and footage of the Cuvac today, the film examines the challenges facing the breed.