A Ballad for the White Cow (Ghasideh Gav Sefid)

And recall when Moses said to his people:

"Allah commands you to slaughter a cow".

They answered: "Do you make a mockery of us?"

Quran - Surah of the Cow (Al Baqarah)

I'm here for a visit.

It's not visiting hours.

He's about to be executed.

BALLAD OF A WHITE COW

Are you taking me to a movie today?

No, I can't.

- It's Tuesday. - I have things to do at home.

We'll watch a film together, okay?

Why are you frowning?

I'm not frowning. I'm just tired.

- I'm not going back to school. - Why not?

- I asked why not. - Because I don't like them.

What did they do?

Do you think you can stop going to school?

And never learn to read?

And not work?

I don't want to work.

I'll come and speak to your teacher.

My teacher is mean. I hate school.

Don't you want a good job when you grow up?

I don't want to work.

How will you take care of me when I'm old?

I kept calling, but you didn't answer.

We turn off our phones at the factory.

You turn off your phones at the factory.

Am I no longer welcome in your home?

Bita's asleep. It's 11pm and I have work in the morning.

I was just joking.

Dad said he misses Bita.

Tell Mina to come visit.

He thinks Babak had some savings and you are hiding it from us.

Tell him they won't give me time off.

Stop wearing black. Put yourself first sometimes.

He's been gone a year.

There was nothing we could've done, it was written.

Put a little fun in your life.

Stop torturing yourself.

Sit here until I come back, okay?

Come in.

- Did he leave a retirement pension? - No.

When was he executed?

One year ago.

- I've told you all this before. - When?

A few months ago, when I applied.

I can't promise you anything, but they should give you something.

Can you tell me how much?

The same amount as for having a deaf child.

- Which is? - Around 200,000 tomans a month.

But you'll need to wait a few weeks for the Board to decide,

hopefully in your favor.

- How old is your daughter? - She's seven.

- Is her deafness hereditary? - No.

What happened?

I had a stressful pregnancy.

Why didn't you request welfare then?

We were financially stable and didn't need it.

Mina, why so late?

- Hello. - Hello.

- I was at the welfare office. - What did they say?

We have to wait for the council to decide.

They need a decision about peanuts!

I made extra dinner if you want some.

You shouldn't have. I'll make something for us.

I made extra. This is for you.

Thanks, I'll let Bita in, and be back.

- Okay. I'll wait. - Thanks.

- Here. - Thank you.

Don't worry about your late rent. I spoke to my husband about it.

- I'll pay in the next couple of weeks. - Okay.

I saved some empty jars for you. I'll get them.

Here.

- Thanks a lot. - What for?

- Good bye. - Bye.

- How was school today? - Bad.

- Why? - I told my teacher I dropped out.

Why did you tell her that?

She failed me in "discipline".

Why did she fail you?

For not having a gym uniform.

Why didn't you tell me to buy you one?

Do you have money?

Yes I have. Don't you worry.

Why don't we ask Daddy for some?

Daddy's gone far away. He's not there anymore.

To another prison?

Daddy wasn't a prisoner.

He worked there to make money for us.

Now he's somewhere else, studying.

Do you know what prison is?

Mrs Eghbali, Main Office.

- Did you page me? - There's a call for you.

Yes?

How can I help you?

Yes, my phone was off. And you are?

What time tomorrow?

Hello.

- Hello. - Please.

- Are you the widow of Babak Parsa? - Yes.

And are you his brother?

Yes. My father is ill and I have his power of attorney.

I'm sorry for rushing this process.

Last month the first witness from your husband's file visited us.

He claimed that the second witness was in fact the murderer.

We reopened the case and investigated his claim.

It seems they had a disagreement over money,

and one of them accused the other.

Based on the eyewitness accounts

and the signed confession of the second witness,

we are now certain that he is in fact the real murderer.

What are you saying?

It seems that the victim, Rashedi, was only knocked out by Babak's punch.

He was alive when your brother ran away from the scene of the crime.

The second witness noticed and killed Rashedi with a blow to the head.

Apparently both witnesses owed Rashedi a lot of money.

That's why Babak thought he was guilty,

and why the judges did too.

So a mistake has been made and we are very sorry about it.

We take full responsibility and compensate you

with the full price for an adult male.

270 million tomans will be paid to the heirs.

Of course, nothing can replace your husband and brother,

but it was, after all, God's will.

If you wish, you may see the murderer.

He has asked to beg for your forgiveness.

You're still very young.

You have to accept your fate and raise your daughter with dignity.

You have to be strong. You're all she has.

She reads your face to see how you are.

Drink this. It'll help you relax.

You need to find a way to forget.

Some use drugs, some get drunk, some like me watch Turkish series.

Guilty or innocent, the poor man is gone.

It makes no difference now.

What was important is buried in the ground.

Don't waste your time.

Judge Amini isn't here, neither is his clerk.

If you have a complaint, complain about the judge.

Why do you keep coming here every day?

- Where should I go? - To the judge's court.

And complain to them about themselves?

My innocent husband was executed! Who should I report it to?

Why are you asking me? I'm only a guard, I'm no one.

So who should I ask?

Can you give my letter to the Court of Appeals?

What will a letter be good for? Sit and write.

- Hello. - Hi.

My name is Reza.

I'm a friend of Babak... May he rest in peace.

How are you?

I was sorry to hear about Babak.

I came to see you about a debt I owe him.

He never mentioned being owed money.

Actually, he gave me the money to do something.

What was your name?

I'm Reza... Esfandiari.

We were spending more time together before he married you.

I visited him in prison once.

I shouldn't have spoken in front of the child,

I'm sorry.

Bita can't hear.

Did you know that Babak was innocent?

The real murderer confessed.

Did you know that?

Yes, I heard.

I'm sorry.

How much did you owe him?

Around ten million.

He never mentioned it!

I'm sorry that it took so long,

forgive me.

Don't apologize. What's important is that you came.

Here it is.

There was no need to rush.

I didn't need the money that much.

It had to be done at some point.

Is it all right if I leave? I'm running late.

I could give you a lift.

I need to pick up my daughter and go to work.

We can go and get her.

It's not fair to you. I work far away from here.

You'll get there faster with me.

And actually, there's something else.

I changed my shift to go to the bank today.

What about your daughter?

They said I could bring her with me.

Do you have relatives in Tehran?

We have a neighbor I get along with.

Thank you for the money.

It was the right thing for me to do.

"The right thing" doesn't mean much these days.

Those who wrongly executed my husband

don't believe that it's the right thing to answer me.

How was he wrongly executed?

No one believed him when he said he was innocent.

In the end, they made him believe that he was guilty.

Now they think that they can fix things with money