A Farming Story (2019)

‘'A Farming Story,' written by Vineet Bhalla, is a dystopian fairy tale. A small community of farming Hummals (human animals), is struggling to survive, after environmental conditions have resulted in repeated crop failures. The villagers of this community are in debt to the Estate which owns all the land. Into this world arrive Hummal monkeys, fleeing devastating forest fires. They hope to find refuge in the village. When a mysterious disease destroys the community's livestock, the Estate blames this on the monkeys. The villagers are deeply divided about this. The monkeys are imprisoned. What ensues is a fight not only for survival but also beliefs of compassion, bravery, and wisdom. Their world eerily reflects ours, with all powerful corporations, environmental damage, genetically modified seeds, abject poverty and mass migrations to city slums. Will the mysterious new land across the lake offer a better world for Humans, Animals, and Hummals? One can only wonder and hope.