i saw a film vacas[means cows]to day .[23 11 08 ]cochin film society screened it in ekm savitha theatre.
its spanish[ 1992 ]directed by juliomedem .it begins in late part of 19th century.
fighting in the trenches at Biscay in 1875 and ends in 1935 0r so.Manuel iriguibel an expert aizcolari [competion log cutter] somehow escapes the war in 1875.carmelo Mendiluze his neighbor dies in the war....actually panicking under fire Manuel drops to the ground and smears himself with blood gushing hot frm the neck of mortally wounded Mendiluze.only a cows` still gaze sees his escape.
the story goes through many generations..the log cutting competition was a big affair then its surprising that a aizcolari has fame as a champion and wealth!is it now prevalent in spain?who knows?
the logcutting is very different frm indian style of log cutting.big tree trunks were cut just like doing n inner carving...its good to see but what abt nature?
Manuel paints cows and all cows have very sweet names....i forgot the names now!
and the agricultural life ,rearing cows n connected jobs are portrayed beautifully in the film.along goes the loves and lusts of the people live in thatcountryside.the coming of camera,car etc r also shown as life changing in outside world.
the film has a live show of a cow having labour pains and all the family helping it....its also very much different frm our kerala style.Manuel sees all generations and when he sees many natural processes thru the lenses of camera[of lizard ,grasshopper]he says "its very important.its very much important it most important'etc.the cows and the portraits of cows he makes r symbols of a life closely connected with NATURE.when the cow falls ill he feeds poisonous mushrooms to reduce its pain n kills it.
i liked the film much.
dirctor Julio Medem [born in 1958]is one of the most important and original spanish film makers.
there were only 10 or 12 viewers for this film .the screeing was video. normally sunday morning shows r crowded ..but today what happened to all these people?