Vingt Dieux

‘Vingt Dieux’  (‘Holy Cow’) directed by Louise Courvoisier  (90 mins) in French with English subtitles

“Totone, 18 years old, spends most of his time drinking beers and partying in the Jura region with his group of friends. But reality catches up with him: he has to take care of his 7-year-old sister and find a way to make a living. He then sets out to make the best Comté cheese in the region, the one that would win him the gold medal at the agricultural competition and 30,000 euros.” – Synopsis

“Lovingly shot in warm natural light, and accompanied by a gentle, lilting soundtrack, Holy Cow is shot through with compassion for its rascally yet vulnerable protagonist. Country folk tend to be reticent about their feelings, and Courvoisier’s debut respects this, finding emotion in small details rather than big set pieces. It should charm audiences at home in France after its premiere in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, and has the potential to break out into arthouse slots elsewhere.” – Screendaily