The Cow (Gaav/Iran) | ( Click here to watch ) 

(100 min; 1969; b/w; Persian with English subtitles)
Director: Dariush Mehrjui

Recipient of the Fipresci Prize, Venice Film Festival 1971; and OCIC Award, Forum of New Film, Berlin International Film Festival 1072

Iran, the 1960s. Masht Hassan owns the only cow in his village, which affords him importance and prestige. Married but without children, Hassan treats the cow as if it were his child, constantly tending to it and even sleeping in the same barn some nights. This tight-knit village is concerned about the inhabitants of a neighbouring village, the Boulouris, who they suspect of wanting to do harm to the cow and the village itself. One morning, Hassan leaves the village on business. His wife then finds the cow dead in the barn. The villagers are grief stricken and suspect the Boulouris of foul play. Knowing that Hassan will be devastated, they concoct a lie…

Considered a landmark in Iranian cinema and only the second film by the then 28 year old director, The Cow is a remarkably mature piece of work, heavily influenced by the Italian neo-realists.