Set in the coastal hills and high pastures, the film follows three young boys—Ferjanč, Lenart, and Blaže—who are forced by economic necessity to work as shepherds from a very early age. Štiglic juxtaposes the breathtaking beauty of the Alpine environment with the "down-to-earth difficulties" the children face, such as the physical danger of fox traps and the weight of adult responsibilities. This duality highlights a core theme: the theft of childhood by labor, where the "pastures" are not merely a playground but a workplace. Dreams and Disputes
In a moment of petty vengeance, Lenart frays the ropes of a great swing over a precipice, a "childish act" that threatens to turn into a tragedy. Cinematic Realism and Legacy
The 1973 film Little Shepherds (originally titled Pastirci ), directed by France Štiglic, is a poignant Slovenian classic that explores the harsh yet dream-filled reality of childhood in a rural, alpine landscape. Based on a 1935 story by France Bevk, the film serves as both a historical document of a vanished way of life and a timeless exploration of the transition from innocence to experience. The Toil of Innocence