Polish short fantasy/drama. “The Hermit” (female).
I had never seen this Polish word before. I learned from researching the translation that there is a specific English word for a female hermit. The word, “anchoress,” is new to me. I’ve seen “anchorite,” but I thought it was gender-inclusive.
Milena runs away from the nightmare of her family home to a nearby forest. On her way, she meets the Crone – an old woman living alone in the darkness of the forest, about whom disturbing stories have been circulating among people for years. The hermit does not let Milena go and follows her every step. The girl doesn’t understand what this old woman wants from her and tries to find out why she lives in the forest and what she has done to make people afraid of her. She discovers the dark secret of the Crone only as a mature woman, when she returns to the past. Then comes the moment of transformation – Milena has the most difficult task to perform – facing her greatest fears and finally coming to terms with the past. The folk tale is set in the world of ancient Slavic beliefs.
Given my heritage, I am quite familiar with ancient Slavic beliefs.
My elderly grandmother one told me:
“If you save every penny you ever have in your life and toss them in a jar, some day, when you are as old and grey as I am, you’ll look in that jar and have so many pennies, you’ll be able to trade them for at least a dime.
Although, ironically, that dime will still be worth a penny, thanks to inflation.”
Ah, the wisdom of our elders.
According to Nudografia, this is her only nude appearance.