Ballad of a White Cow (2021) directed by Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghadam starring Maryam Moghadam herself and Alireza Sanifar in the lead is now streaming on Mubi India and Mubi US.
A powerful take on grief, remorse and forgiveness, Ballad of a white cow reflects what it means to be a woman, or more precisely a widowed woman in Contemporary Iran. Maryam Moghadam does an exceptional job embodying a resilient woman’s quest for justice against all odds while also donning the hat of a co-director. The film also dissects ethical dilemmas faced by contemporary Iranian Women.
Moghaddam plays Mina, whose husband Babak, was sentenced to death for murder and executed before the story starts. Mina works in a milk-packing factory and raises her deaf seven-year-old daughter, Bita with Babak’s brother. She is suddenly summoned to court, and told that Babak’s execution was a mistake and they will be “compensated the full price for an adult male”. Mina then encounters an overtly generous Reza who confesses to be a friend of her husband, but her life turns upside down in no time.
A minimalistic gem that confronts patriarchy and religion on one hand, while also dissecting universal concepts of Justice, Redemption and forgiveness on the other hand definitely deserves your time and attention. The film had it’s world premiere and was also nominated for the Golden Bear at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival 2021.