Cow

A simple, empathetic and patient approach to documentary is applied to moving effect to Luma, a dairy cow. Birthed - starkly, right before our eyes - to an animal industry and to a compliant but caring mother, Luma’s entire life cycle seems prefigured at every point, yet there is drama all the time - in the push of her natural instinct against the pull of her profit-hungry environs. A long-held passion-project by director Andrea Arnold (Wuthering Heights, American Honey), whose sympathy with female bodies here again proffers a unique gaze.

‘I always said early on that if the cows are aware of the camera, just let it be honest. We can’t pretend we’re not there and our presence is going to have an impact on the way she behaves. Sometimes, she did get sort of angry with us and head-butt the camera, but I really felt over time that she felt seen. I don’t know if I’m right, but it feels very profound, because the whole point was to see her. Obviously, she doesn’t know what this thing is that is filming her, but she could certainly feel that we are focusing on her. I think she felt the gaze.’

Director Andrea Arnold, from an interview with the New York Times.