Taarka

The first film ever made in the Seto language tells the story of the most luminous figure among a small ethnic group: the folk singer Hilana Taarka. She spent her life as an outsider, residing in a modest hut without a chimney. As an unmarried mother living in poverty, she survived by doing various jobs, begging for food, and singing. Her songs were always truthful, sometimes harsh, sometimes humorous, and sometimes ruthless. People both feared and desired her. Throughout her extraordinary life, from a tiny Seto village to international recognition, Taarka sang with exceptional skill. She became known as the Mother of the Song, a legendary figure. Yet, despite her fame, the Seto community never fully embraced her as a woman or as one of their own. Taarka was both a scorned woman and a revered singer.