THE COW (GAAV), 1969

Iran | DCP, Black-White, 104’ | Persian
Director: Dariush Mehrjui
Cast: Ezzatolah Entezami, Mahin Shahabi, Ali Nasirian

A major work of the Iranian New Wave, The Cow follows Hassan, a poor peasant whose only source of happiness and livelihood, his beloved cow, mysteriously dies one night. Consumed by grief, Hassan spirals into madness, believing he has become the cow—a transformation that reflects both personal and societal change. Inspired by psychiatrist Gholam-Hossein Sa'edi’s short stories, the film was smuggled into the Venice Film Festival despite an export ban and was quickly hailed as a masterpiece. With heartbreaking intensity, it explores the blurred lines between human and animal, while delving into themes of religion, left-wing politics, and the looming power of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

For the Thursday screening of this film, visitors can collect their tickets at the museum desk on the day of the screening. Tickets are free for residents of Türkiye.