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Project short description

This is an observational documentary exploring the deep bond between humans and cattle. Through four intimate stories—spanning dairy farming, sacred cows, leather craftsmanship, and ritual sacrifice—the film invites the audience to reflect on the interdependence between humans and cattle.

Project long description

This observational documentary explores the relationship between humans and cattle. Set in Italy and Nepal, the film sheds light on cattle’s experiences through birth, labour, reverence, and death, revealing the interdependence of humans and cattle across cultures.

Structured around four intimate stories, the film alternates between the two countries, examining cattle’s role in both the physical and spiritual realms of human life:

• In Italy, a small herd of dairy cows sustains a family farm dating back to the 1700s. Located on Milan’s urban-rural edge, the farm is a last defence against encroaching development.

• In rural area of Bhaktapur, three sacred cows live under the care of a Hindu woman who considers them family. Their milk provides essential income, helping the household navigate Nepal’s rapid modernization.

• In Bologna (Italy), an artisan transforms the hide of a once-living cow into handmade leather goods, preserving a fading craft challenged by ethical concerns and mass production.

• In a Hindu temple in Bhaktapur, a buffalo is revered and cared for by a group of men. Though he is seen as a demonic symbol in local beliefs and chosen for an annual sacrifice to restore cosmic balance, he receives daily devotion until the end.

Rather than defining the human-cattle relationship, the film observes, listens, and follows, leaving the audience to interpret its complexities. The film invites viewers to reflect on the deep bond between humans and cattle through the conflicting emotions of those who get through their daily lives with cattle.