You Won't Be Alone

You Won't Be Alone (Macedonian: Нема да бидеш сама, romanized: Nema da bidesh sama) is a 2022 dark fantasy horror drama film written and directed by Goran Stolevski.

It is an international co-production of Australia, the United Kingdom, North Macedonia and Serbia in the Macedonian language, and marks Stolevski's feature film directorial debut.

The film tells the story of Nevena, a mute girl in 19th-century Macedonia who is taken from a sheltered life of solitude by the witch Maria who turns her into a fellow shapeshifting witch before abandoning her, leading the clueless girl to explore the world above ground for the first time and learn about humanity, loss and love – while Maria watches in anger.

It stars Sara Klimoska, Alice Englert, Carloto Cotta, and Noomi Rapace as some of Nevena's forms, alongside Anamaria Marinca as Maria.

In 19th-century Macedonia, Maria – a "Wolf-Eateress" (Macedonian: Волкојатка, romanized: Volkojatka), or witch, with a horrible burned appearance – enters the home of a newborn baby girl.

Nevena spies on Maria assuming the form of a wolf by putting its entrails into a cavity in her chest, understanding how to shapeshift as a witch.

While Nevena's muteness and clueless attitude causes the other villagers to think Bosilka has gone mad, she slowly learns how to live as a human: how to cook and wash, how to communicate non-verbally, and the differences in how men and women treat her.

His peculiar behaviour attracts the attention of the women of the village, who believe him possessed and attempt an exorcism, which they believe is successful, but say that the Wolf-Eateress that bewitched him will one day come back and spirit him away.

Centuries ago, "Old Maid Maria", ageing and unmarried, led an unfulfilling, repetitive life caring for her elderly father.

Left sick and ill after the death of the son, a desperate Maria attempted to drink a cow's blood to give her strength but was discovered and burned as a witch.

In December 2020, it was announced Noomi Rapace, Anamaria Marinca, Alice Englert, Carloto Cotta, Félix Maritaud and Sara Klimoska had joined the cast of the film, with Goran Stolevski directing from a screenplay he wrote, with Focus Features set to distribute.

The website's consensus reads: "Although it may strike some as too artsy for its own good, You Won't Be Alone puts a thoughtfully fresh spin on familiar horror tropes.