A lovely - and bittersweet - tale of the most unlikely of trios: an elderly farmer, his nagging, but loving wife, and their aged ox. Shot as a documentary, the film is a quiet poem dedicated to themes such as dedication, love, duty, growing old, and the love one man can have for a beast of burden… and vice versa. There is so much to like here… The film never allows itself to rush headlong into anything, but rather, it is comfortable just letting quiet moments play themselves out and allowing the viewer to infer what they will. And through it all, the ox’s bell rings like a Zen call to prayer, gently marking each moment as it approaches, exists, and then passes by. Don’t go into this film expecting much to happen… because it doesn’t. In fact, the ending is given away at the outset, but… oftentimes the best of life’s experiences are not about the destination, but about the journey there. A terrific film that touched me deep inside. I liked this one probably more than I should, but… what can I say? Highly recommended to those who have patience - and heart - enough to scratch the surface and see all the beauty this simple tale possesses.
4 out of 5 stars
~ Thom Carnell
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