»The cow is the symbol of our country,« says Luis, a herdsman. Anyone in Cuba who slaughters a cow can get up to 30 years in prison. An outdated law dating back to Castro’s revolution is the reason behind this odd state of affairs. In contemplative images, then, La sagrada de Cuba offers a portrait of a country at a standstill, using Cuban cowherds’ stories to tell of the economic significance of the animal for the island beyond revolutionary constraints. It also narrates of cattle mafias, black-market meat, thieves, lovers, carnivore tourists and sleepless herdsmen caught between hope and resignation.