CANNES 2021 Premiere Reviews - "Cow"
“Cow” by Andrea Arnold (CONTAINS SPOILERS)
It is a documentary film directed by Andrea Arnold which chronicles daily life of a dairy cow. There is no voice-over or any kind of commentary in the film. The film shows the world from animal’s perspective. Images are providing a close-up view into life of cows in captivity. The film premiered on July 8th 2021.
The main goal of the film is to build an emotional connection between a viewer and the protagonist, the cow. The film reveals intimate moments in cows’ lives. Filmmakers manage to capture unique images which otherwise are only witnessed by farmers and cows themselves. The audience is presented with an exceptional opportunity to discover a new world which is so familiar, yet so unknown. Through realistic cinematography, which very often begs a question “how did they get this shot?”, Andrea and Magdalena Kowalczyk (director of photography) encapsulate the essence of cows existence. Surprisingly, a viewer begins to empathize with cows easily. It is a cinematic and storytelling achievement.
There were two scenes which evoked most emotions in me, personally. The first one happens when all the cows gather in a barn during nighttime. They moo together and enjoy nighttime activities. The dramatic engine of a scene is powered by a bull courting a cow which lead to them having an intercourse. In the background, we can hear electronic music making the whole scene resemble a night at a club. It is a smart and subtle commentary on modern human society. It shows similarities in our behavior and social patters. The scene is filled with grotesque humor.
The second scene I would like to mention is the ending of the movie. By this time, a viewer is already immersed in daily life of cows. Empathizes with them. Feels for them. That is until the cow is shot and left to rot in a spare stable. The end. Usually after a film ends during a premiere in Cannes, the audience starts applauding. This time it fell silent. This is a powerful and startling ending, even though we all know how the story of cow’s life goes.
“Cow” is a must-see film that formulates, along with few other titles, a new wave in a documentary cinema. It is an ambitious cinematic experience for those who dare to see.
