Ballad of a White Cow
dir. Behtash Sanaeeha, Maryam Moghaddam · 2021
The struggle for justice and recognition in the face of systemic indifference is a fundamental part of the human experience.
Mina stands in the remnants of her life, grappling with the revelation that her husband was wrongfully executed. As she navigates a labyrinth of bureaucratic indifference, her fight for an apology becomes a testament to her resilience. Watching this film is like stepping into a quiet storm, where every moment is steeped in the weight of loss and the struggle for dignity.
Mina's life is turned upside down when she learns that her husband Babak was wrongly accused of the crime for which he was executed. The bureaucracy apologizes for the miscarriage of justice and holds out the prospect of financial compensation. As an act of self-respect and for the sake of her deaf daughter, Mina takes up the fight against an apparatus marked by cynicism; she demands an apology. Just as money is running out and she loses her flat, a stranger named Reza shows up. He claims to have owed Babak a debt that he now wants to settle.
Talking points
- the role of bureaucracy in justice
- the impact of wrongful convictions on families
- gender dynamics in Iranian society
- the nature of forgiveness
