Film
In a river in southern Chile, the fish are dying from the pollution of a nearby pulp mill. Surrounded by the motionless fish floating on the surface, Magdalena, who had been dead for a long time, comes back to life and unearthes old wounds and well-kept family secrets. Magdalena’s reappearance and her sudden influence on the environment soon arise curiosity and fear within her family. As the past is unveiled, an opportunity to reshape the future comes into view. The Cow… is a Chilean tale of magic realism about nature and motherhood, a visually striking ecological fable. Imbued with a strange melancholia, the film never aims at shocking or creating fear about the current climate crisis. It explores a vision that encourages audience members to think about their own actions. It is a hopeful reminder that it is not too late to fix some of the existing problems, and that the planet can find salvation through our collective effort. Francisca Alegría holds a degree in directing from the Catholic University of Chile, as well as a degree in writing and directing from the University of Columbia. Her short film And The Whole Sky Fit In The Dead Cow's Eye won the Best International Fiction Short award at the 2017 Sundance film festival. The Cow Who Sang A Song Into The Future is her first feature film.