The Cinematheque

“Firouzeh is a riveting character … Gorgeous to look at, Beloved will surprise you in all the best ways.”

Susan G. Cole, Now Magazine

“Eighty-two-year-old Firouzeh is not afraid of hard work. From dawn to dusk, the fiercely independent herder takes care of her beloved cows in the mountains of Northern Iran, without any access to electricity, gas, or phone. Married at a young age to an older man, she’s long been a widow, and none of her 11 children ever visit. But she enjoys her solitary life in harmony with nature, and won’t hear the well-meaning advice from nearby villagers that it’s maybe time to retire. This indomitable woman will always choose her hard-won freedom over comfort among people — and the male forestry officers trying to displace her will soon learn what she’s made of. Shot over four seasons in strikingly glorious colours, Yaser Talebi’s memorable documentary portrait combines lyricism, humour, and poetry, and offers one of the most touching finales you’ll see” (Charlotte Selb, Hot Docs).