OCIC Award - Recommendation (Forum of New Film)
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also known as Gaav
The Cow1969
Influenced by Italian Neorealism, THE COW has the beauty and simplicity associated with the great films of that movement. In a small village in Iran, Hassan cherishes his cow more than anything in the world. While he is away, the cow mysteriously dies, and the villagers protectively try to convince Hassan the cow has wandered off. Grief stricken, Hassan begins to believe he is his own beloved bovine. THE COW won great acclaim at the Venice Film Festival after being smuggled out of Iran in 1971, and was twice voted the best Iranian film ever made by a survey of Iranian film critics.
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1 member likes this review
This is quite a parable . . . when the people of a small village have to deal with a crisis of the much loved Hassan, they try help him by doing what they think is best, but when faced with a very difficult situation they inevitably fall back into unenlightened treatment of him. Beautiful cinematography, acting and music. Heart wrenching.
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Starring
- Firouz Behjat-Mohamadi
- Mahmoud Dowlatabadi
- Ezzatolah Entezami - Masht Hassan
- Parviz Fannizadeh
- Jamshid Mashayekhi - Abbas
- Ali Nassirian - Islam
- Ezatallah Ramezanifar - Madman
- Esmat Safavi - Old Woman
- Mahin Shahabi - Hassan's Wife
- Jafar Vali - Kadkhoda
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Member Reviews (3)
top reviewer
This is quite a parable . . . when the people of a small village have to deal with a crisis of the much loved Hassan, they try help him by doing what they think is best, but when faced with a very difficult situation they inevitably fall back into unenlightened treatment of him. Beautiful cinematography, acting and music. Heart wrenching.
1 member likes this review
Elegant and rich in it's simplicity, The Cow offers a tale that could be applied anywhere you find yourself in the world. When you lose something you love dearly, you can become one with that being and by doing so learn to transcend your grief. Heartbreaking score and cinematography help the story move swiftly forward and the village and it's inhabitants show what a village will do when they care about one of their own.
An early classic of Iranian New Wave, with a strong neo-realist feel. Reminded me of the beautiful cinematography in Pathar Panchali and 50s Italian cinema.