An eco-conscious folklore bathed in surrealism, The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future is an ambitious exploration of relationships with things beyond the material world. Director Francisca Alegría crafts a story rich in imagery and topical urgency in this bold feature debut. It’s a lot to digest, but the payoff is completely worth it.

The film takes place in southern Chile, an area overrun by pollution and water contamination. Thousands of fish have turned up dead in the river, so it’s shocking to see a woman emerge from the deadly waters. As she makes her way from the river and into the small town, she catches the eye of an older man. When he spots her, he immediately gets overcome with emotion. He believes this is Magdalena (Mia Maestro), his deceased wife who killed herself in a mysterious suicide decades ago.

This revelation frightens his daughter, Cecilia (Leonor Varela), a grown woman herself. She, her two children, and her brother all return to their hometown to be by their dad’s side while he recovers from his shock. Could this really be their resurrected mother, back from the dead? Cecilia doesn’t believe this theory until she comes face to face with Magdalena herself in the woods. Magdalena is quiet–silent throughout the entirety of the film, in fact– but conveys her message through her expression. Cecilia can’t deny her mother’s presence now, but one big question remains: why is Magdalena here?

The Cow Who Sang A Song Into The Future is, at its core, a simple story about life and death, both literally and figuratively. Cecilia’s oldest child, born Tomás, now identifies as a woman. The figurative death of her son is something that Cecilia grapples with, not able to accept her true identity at the onset. The resurrection of Magdalena is like Mother Nature in human form who descends from the ethereal world to draw attention to the local factory that is killing fish and contaminating the water, which puts all humans and animals at risk.

One of the standout characteristics of the film is the use of music; specifically, the lyrics that accompany the haunting melody. The bass drum beats like a heartbeat, and a choir of voices sings about returning to Earth after death. It’s equal parts haunting and beautiful and expertly fills in the gaps between scenes.

Unlike some environmental films that aim to shock or scare viewers into action, The Cow Who Sang A Song Into The Future acts as a gentle reminder that if we continue to live selfishly, our planet, environment, and our lives will feel the repercussions. Most importantly, though, it’s not too late to reverse some of the damage that’s already been done.

This review originally ran on February 11, 2022, during the Sundance Film Festival.

Distributed by Kino Lorber. Opening at the Landmark Nuart in Los Angeles this Friday, May 26, 2023.