Film Cow & Interview

Een bijzondere film over koeien, dat je doet nadenken over hun betekenis en onze band met de natuur.

Een kalf wordt geboren. Voor Luma, een ervaren moeder, is dit routine. Ze likt haar pasgeboren kalf voordat het van haar wordt weggenomen. Het leven van Luma is een aaneenschakeling van inseminatie, baren en gemolken worden. In Cow volgt regisseur Andrea Arnold, onder meer bekend van FISH TANK en AMERICAN HONEY, het dagelijkse leven van een melkkoe. De camera zit zo dicht op haar huid dat zij de filmmaakster regelmatig omver loopt. Het resultaat is een intiem en puur cinematografisch portret van een individu dat gevangen zit in een kil systeem. Andrea Arnold: "De film is een poging om stil te staan bij koeien. Om zowel de schoonheid als de ellende van hun leven te zien. Niet op een romantische manier, maar op een levensechte manier. Het is een film over de dagelijkse werkelijkheid van een melkkoe en de erkenning van de geweldige dienst die ze ons bewijst."

English synopsis

This documentary is an endeavour to consider cows. To move us closer to them. To see both their beauty and the challenge of their lives. Not in a romantic way but in a real way. It's about one dairy cow's reality and also acknowledging her great service to us.

Luma, de moederkoe in de fascinerende  documentaire COW.

Interview with producer Kat Mansoor

With 20 years of industry experience, Producer Kat Mansoor has worked with the likes of Netflix, Mubi, BBC Films, Channel 4, Film4 and Vice to consistently deliver a slate of highly acclaimed films. Kat's work has been shown around the world at festivals such as Cannes, Tribeca, Telluride, SXSW and IDFA. Her film credits include double Grierson-winning HERE’S JOHNNY, BLACKOUT, WOJTEK, THE BEAR THAT WENT TO WAR, THE MAN WHOSE MIND EXPLODED, IDA'S DIARY, LOST AND SOUND, and WHAT WE BELIEVE. Kat's recent releases include BAFTA-nominated COW, directed by Academy Award-winning Andrea Arnold, and REBELLION. Snowstorm is currently in production on RE-EVALUATION (Film4), FIRESTARTERS (CINEREACH) and FATHER FATHER.

What has motivated you to produce this documentary?

I loved the idea of making Cow from the moment I met Andrea Arnold and she told me her idea. I'm a huge fan of Andrea's work. I didn't have the same emotional connection to the idea as Andrea, because I'd never really spent any time in nature, so making Cow was in some ways also motivated by my curiosity. We talked a lot about the idea of consciousness in the pre-production of the film and I wanted to really observe that through an animal. Andrea is a brave filmmaker, and I was motivated by the challenge of creating cinema without many words, and in images. These films don't come around often.

What do you hope to accomplish with this documentary?

That's a difficult question. I'm hopeful that broad audiences will take a leap in to the world of Luma and consider her world with her. For me success is audiences getting a moment to think about their connection with animals, food, milk and eachother. I love that there is no judgement in the film, that it was made with a lot of respect for the animals and farmers involved. Life is messy. Our connection to the world we live in is too.

What did you learn from this?

Cow is probably the only film that I have made with pure Cinema in mind. The experience of telling a story visually was interesting. I found it challenging at times – but working with a brave director is also exciting because you are taking a leap with them in to something unconventional. I learnt that I do like taking risks as a producer – and I do love the artistic process.

Director : Andrea Arnold

Producer : Kat Mansoor

Genre : documentary

Duur : 93 min.

Datum : 06-10-2022