Sanyi, a rooster who fled a poultry market and settled in a public square in Bekescsaba, Hungary, became an unexpected folk hero. Residents visited him daily and shared feelings of love, grief, and even contempt in a dedicated Facebook group. His daring escape and free life among the trees symbolized a freedom many felt was out of reach under then-Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government, marked by distrust, poverty, and divisive politics. For the townspeople, Sanyi became a symbol of hope and a catalyst for rebuilding strained community bonds. “Sanyi became the glue that held everyone together,” said one resident. However, the rooster’s mysterious death also exposed how fragile social cohesion can be in a divided society. The short documentary “Sanyi Kakas” captures Hungary a year before the end of Mr. Orban’s combined two-decade rule. Though Sanyi is gone and Mr. Orban out of office, the story remains a timely reminder that in difficult and divided times, we must seize opportunities for connection and hope, no matter how absurd.
Lotte Salomons is a director from Amsterdam.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing