Considering how much evolution we’ve gone through to get where we are today, it’s more than a little amusing that, as a species, we’re often resistant to change. So, when we’re faced with a major upheaval or challenge, we’re likely to bury our heads in the sand and hope it simply goes away of its own accord. The climate crisis brings the future into stark relief. We can either adopt a fatalistic stance or as The Cow Who Sang a Song into The Future suggests, a positive and progressive approach.
In a river in the south of Chile, fish are dying due to pollution from a nearby factory. At the same time a woman rises from the depths, the long dead Magdalena (Mía Maestro). Given that she committed suicide many years ago, this comes as a surprise for her widow (Alfredo Castro) and now adult children (Leonor Varela and Marcial Tagle). Three generations of the family father together at the family’s struggling dairy.
The Cow Who Sang a Song into The Future tackles the existential crisis caused by the impending ecological disaster in a highly unusual way. While it’s easy to focus on the negatives, director Francisca Alegria’s debut feature is full of hope. Instead of doom and gloom it’s a tale of life and rebirth. The Cow Who Sang a Song into The Future is a lyrical and spiritual tale which dabbles in magical realism. Urging the viewer to not dwell on the past but concentrate on making it a brighter tomorrow.
The Cow Who Sang a Song into The Future screened at Sundance Film Festival.
