When the Cows Come Home
“Even Loners Need a Herd...”
Synopsis
When the Cows Come Home introduces audiences to Tilly and Maggie, a pair of cows that musician, journalist, artist and cow whisperer, Andrew Johnstone has befriended and subsequently saved from slaughter. The garrulous herdsman is enthusiastic to expound his views on animal husbandry, bovine communication and the vagaries of life in general, before the film walks us back through the events that have shaped the singular farmer-philosopher. From personal family tragedy to warring with Catholic school authorities, innovating in Hamilton’s nascent music scene to creating guerrilla art installations; Johnstone’s life has had a truly idiosyncratic trajectory. Mental health issues may have seen him retreat to life on the farm, but the film makes clear its subject’s restless inquisitiveness is far from being put out to pasture.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Release History & Theatrical Window
New Zealand International Film Festival, July 28-August 31 2022
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Costa Botes
- Original Score
- Tom McLeod
- Original Title
- When the Cows Come Home
- Country of Origin
- New Zealand
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 44m
- Production Studios
- Lone Pine
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Costa Botes
Tom McLeod
Department Leadership Roster
Costa Botes
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for When the Cows Come Home.
Similar Titles to When the Cows Come Home
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.0
7.5
10.0
5.3
5.0
5.0
7.0
7.7
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 2 3"%3E%3Crect width="2" height="3" fill="%23161922"/%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Beast with a Thousand Faces
7.4
8.0
7.5
More Like When the Cows Come Home
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About When the Cows Come Home
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is When the Cows Come Home about?
When the Cows Come Home introduces audiences to Tilly and Maggie, a pair of cows that musician, journalist, artist and cow whisperer, Andrew Johnstone has befriended and subsequently saved from slaughter. The garrulous herdsman is enthusiastic to expound his views on animal husbandry, bovine communication and the vagaries of life in general, before the film walks us back through the events that have shaped the singular farmer-philosopher. From personal family tragedy to warring with Catholic school authorities, innovating in Hamilton’s nascent music scene to creating guerrilla art installations; Johnstone’s life has had a truly idiosyncratic trajectory. Mental health issues may have seen him retreat to life on the farm, but the film makes clear its subject’s restless inquisitiveness is far from being put out to pasture.
Who directed When the Cows Come Home?
When the Cows Come Home was directed by Costa Botes.
Who stars in When the Cows Come Home?
The principal cast of When the Cows Come Home includes Andrew Johnstone, Geoff Lealand, Claudine Johnstone, Noel Johnstone, Louise Allen.
When was When the Cows Come Home released and how long is it?
When the Cows Come Home was released in 2022 with a total runtime of 1h 44m.
Who composed the musical score for When the Cows Come Home?
The original motion picture soundtrack for When the Cows Come Home was composed by Tom McLeod.