The Cow Poster

The Cow 1996

★ 5.79 votes86 min📅 1996-01-11

In *The Cow (1996)*, Karel Kachyňa crafts a poignant drama set in a remote turn-of-the-century village, where hardship shapes lives just as surely as the seasons.

Director: Karel Kachyňa

Cast

Radek Holub
Radek Holub
Adam
Alena Mihulová
Alena Mihulová
Róza
Valérie Zawadská
Valérie Zawadská
Adam's mother
Viktorie Knotková
Neighbor
Antonín Molčík
Antonín Molčík
Butcher
Zdeněk Dušek
Zdeněk Dušek
Vejsada
František Peterka
František Peterka
Policeman
Vlastimil Zavřel
Vlastimil Zavřel
Bull's owner
Václav Helšus
Václav Helšus
Gamekeeper
Zdeněk Kozák
Neighbor

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Cow (1996) about?

The film follows Adam, a farmer living with mental scars from childhood, who sells his family's only cow to pay for his dying mother's medicine. When Rosa, a young maid fleeing abuse, joins him on his isolated farm, their bond offers a glimmer of hope in a harsh world tied to tradition and struggle.

Who directed The Cow?

The Cow was directed by Karel Kachyňa, a Czech filmmaker known for his intimate, character-driven dramas that explore rural life and human resilience.

Who stars in The Cow?

The film features Radek Holub as Adam, Alena Mihulová as Rosa, and Valérie Zawadská in a supporting role, with Viktorie Knotková and Antonín Molčík rounding out the cast.

Is The Cow (1996) worth watching?

A beautifully understated drama, *The Cow* is worth watching for its emotional depth and authentic portrayal of rural life. While it's difficult to gauge its reception without an IMDb rating, Kachyňa's direction and the cast's performances make it a compelling watch for fans of slow-burn character studies.

How long is The Cow?

The Cow (1996) has a runtime of 86 minutes.

About The Cow (1996) — A Rural Drama of Love and Redemption

In *The Cow (1996)*, Karel Kachyňa crafts a poignant drama set in a remote turn-of-the-century village, where hardship shapes lives just as surely as the seasons. Adam, a simple farmer scarred by childhood trauma, sells his family's only cow to save his dying mother, only to find unexpected hope when Rosa, a young maid fleeing exploitation, arrives seeking refuge. Together, they navigate a world tied to the land, where love and survival intertwine against the backdrop of rustic struggles. The film explores themes of resilience, redemption, and the quiet bonds that form when people choose humanity over circumstance.

With its stark realism and emotional depth, *The Cow* paints a vivid portrait of rural life in a bygone era. The story's raw simplicity is balanced by the stunning performances of Radek Holub as Adam and Alena Mihulová as Rosa, whose chemistry brings warmth to the film's otherwise somber tone. Kachyňa's direction lingers on the textures of their world—dusty fields, crumbling farmhouses—while quietly celebrating the cycles of life that bind them.