Vacas – Kühe (1992)

Vacas – Kühe: Directed by Julio Medem. With Emma Suárez, Carmelo Gómez, Ana Torrent, Karra Elejalde. Set in the Basque region, a story of the rivalry of two families, period 1870-1935

“If life itself is cyclical, the telling of it must be so, too. This is evident in films like `Los Amantes del Círculo Polaru0026#39; (1998) (qv) and `Lucía y el Sexou0026#39; (2001) (qv), both seen a long way previously to `Vacasu0026#39; which I have only just recently been able to see – and where better but on the Basque Channel (Euskal Telebista).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis story takes up over 60 years leading up to the eve of the Spanish Civil War in the high valleys and hills of Euskadi (Basque Country). Two rival families eke out a living. Highly charged with symbolisms – cows – and metaphorisms, as well as the ever-present rôle of Basque culture, such as the `aizkolariu0026#39;, the film proceeds unhurriedly through the years, unveiling an almost mysterious world of superstitions, envy and mistrust.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe cyclical effect of the film is enhanced by some of the main actors – Carmelo Gómez, for example – playing more than one character as the years go by, thus assuring that the spectator has to be on his toes and aware of how the filmu0026#39;s story is progressing.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGood work here by Carmelo Gómez, and the rest of the cast is well up to Medemu0026#39;s demands. Superb photography by Carles Gusi, and as ever Alberto Iglesiasu0026#39; music is really good, mirroring well the scenery, its people and the story line. Well worth watching if you get the chance.”