The Park with the Stones
Nothing stays the same
When her 4-year-old asks what the stones in a Victorian cemetery are for, a young mother stumbles toward answers she didn’t know she had.
- Duration
- 11:51
- Year
- 2026
- Genre
- Drama, Tragicomedy
- Status
- In festival submission
Synopsis
A young mother and her 4-year-old daughter walk through a Victorian cemetery they’ve come to know as “the park with the stones” on a winter’s day. But when the daughter has new questions about why the stones are there, her mother stumbles towards answers she didn’t know she had.
Filmed on location in South London in January 2026, The Park with the Stones stars Molly Chesworth (Netflix’s Black Doves, BBC’s Call the Midwife), with cinematography by Cristina Cretu (camera department on Poor Things, Bugonia, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, making her DP debut) and an original score by Adam Znaidi (bassist for The Go! Team).
Associate produced by Diana Paroiu (Return to Seoul - Oscars Shortlist ’23, Cannes Un Certain Regard ’22, Families Like Ours - premiere Venice ’24). Other collaborators include colourist Vlad Barin and Grammy-winning mix engineer Sam Harper.
Written, directed and produced by Mihai Badic.
Stills
Director’s statement
“For a couple of years my route to kindergarten passed through an old London cemetery. As my daughter’s language developed and her questions got more complex, we went from calling it “the park with the stones” to talking about how the stones are “special”. One day, after we came across a dead worm, her questions sparked an unexpectedly deep conversation about life and death. I wrote the script from that experience. I wanted to capture a child’s first awareness of mortality, and through it something of how I see being alive: secular, fleeting, both joyful and absurd.”
Cast and key crew
-
Molly Chesworth Mother
London-based actor, best known for the Netflix drama series Black Doves, returning for a second season. Further screen credits include BBC’s Call the Midwife.
-
Zephyr Tudor Girl
Currently in Year 1 of school, The Park with the Stones is her screen acting debut.
-
Mihai Badic Producer, Writer, Director
17 years as a creative working across advertising, design, tech and NGOs, The Park with the Stones is his directorial debut. Mihai founded Studio Areal as an umbrella to pursue narrative film.
-
Diana Paroiu Associate Producer
Known for Mammalia (Berlinale Forum ’23), The Distance between Me and Me (Gopo Award for Best Documentary ’20), Families Like Ours (premiere Venice ’24) and Return to Seoul (Oscars shortlist ’23, Cannes Un Certain Regard ’22).
-
Cristina Cretu Director of Photography
Worked in the camera department on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Poor Things, The Favourite and The Theory of Everything. This is her debut as Director of Photography.
-
Adam Znaidi Original Score
Co-founder of The Physics House Band, bassist for The Go! Team, and founder of Wes Banderson, a touring act performing scores from Wes Anderson films.
-
Vlad Barin Colourist
Colourist on The Lesson, The Exit Plan and Filipiñana, and on campaigns for Gucci, Volvo and Nike.
-
Sam Harper Re-Recording Mixer
Grammy-winning mix engineer with credits on multiple platinum-selling records, including work with Wizkid, Jorja Smith, Burna Boy and J Hus.
Full credits
- Writer & DirectorMihai Badic
- MotherMolly Chesworth
- GirlZephyr Tudor
- CinematographyCristina Cretu
- Original ScoreAdam Znaidi
- ProducerMihai Badic
- Associate ProducerDiana Paroiu
- EditorMihai Badic
- Production DesignAlex Sava and Ana-Despina Tudor
- ColouristVlad Barin
- 1st ACApolo Wilson
- GafferJermaine Edwards
- StillsAlina Manea & Mihai Badic
- Sound RecordingAdam Znaidi
- Sound DesignMihai Badic
- Re-Recording MixerSam Harper
- Camera EquipmentHawk London
- Sound EquipmentStudio Areal
- Visual EffectsMihai Badic
- CateringEastern Bloc Peckham
- RunnerLeo Metcalf
- Launch CoordinatorMaximilian Liford
- Graphic DesignerMihai Badic
- Special thanksDino Kazamia, Mihaela Badic, Cristian Sandulescu and Klaus Fried