D I R E C T O R

V I C T O R  C A N A C H E

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If you are taken aback by my approach to our childhood story, know that it is only natural. Perhaps, as children, we come into the world equipped to instinctively block out malice and overlook ill intent, experiencing things with purity and innocence that corrodes with time. Most likely, you are not the only one thinking, This is not how the story went. I’d urge you to give it another read. This story is closely tied to our upbringing, our families, our first days of school, and our friends. Inevitably, then, you may carry a certain preconception with you as you begin watching the film. 

I must admit, it was that very same preconception that led me to set out on this adventure. And I must apologize for choosing such an important piece of literature for my debut as a film director. I underestimated the task at hand, thinking to myself: It’s nothing more than a short, simple bedtime story.

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​However, during the last 6 years of my life that I dedicated towards the completion of this project, I had plenty of time to come to my senses and, hopefully, managed to do it justice after all.

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Before I go on, I must acknowledge that, so far, I have addressed only the Romanian public. That doesn’t mean the movie can’t be watched by anyone regardless of nationality! I just felt like I owed everyone that grew up with this story a special introduction.

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Regarding "why this story?" the answer is rather simple. No one has ever done it before. The realization that there were no adaptations of this story out there to be watched was nothing short of an epiphany for me. And much more important than that, my wife was on board with the idea!

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The first external source of inspiration had to be my former acting teacher, Romania’s acting icon and the fricking mother of God, Maia Morgenstern! It felt so natural that the two should come together, her and this iconic role, that I am confident it was just a mere matter of time till someone else would have made it happen. And how lucky am I to have been the instrument that coalesced them?

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Now, I am not a superstitious man, nor do I hold any firm reasons to believe in destiny, but I must admit, sometimes, in retrospect, it feels like this project had a mind of its own and that we were simply there to do its bidding. Through a series of events, the antagonist of the story, the big bad wolf, came to life through the unique figure of Marius Bodochi who, through his talent, decades of experience, haunting voice and charisma, gave us all the wolf we never knew this film needed!

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Finally, I’d like to leave you with this: If you happen to watch The Goat and Her Three Kids know that I have done everything that was in my power to make the movie I wanted to watch. To what extent I managed to pull it off really doesn’t matter! What matters is that, when you watch it, you’re seeing much more than just an adaptation of a famous plot. You are seeing the conglomerated result of combined efforts, of risk, passion, teamwork, immense sacrifice, and a childhood promise that I was fortunate enough to see fulfilled.