An act of cowardice influences the lives of two Basque families over three generations.
Cinematography
Dreamlike Basque landscapes that swallow characters whole.
Acting
Carmelo Gómez plays three generations with subtle physical distinctions.
Direction
Medem's circular narrative feels like a curse repeating itself.
Director
Julio Medem
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Medem used actual Basque farmhouse locations that had been in families for centuries, lending the film's circular structure an almost documentary authenticity.
The film's title refers to the 1936 cow massacre — a real Basque tradition of killing livestock before fleeing fascist advance, symbolizing destroyed rural life.
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