Film Forum

Reveling in his youth in the gorgeous rural Jura region of Eastern France, Totone has few worries and is content to party with his friends as the family dairy business hums along. But when calamity strikes, the underdisciplined 18-year-old finds himself in charge of the farm and his 7-year-old sister. A sun-drenched coming-of-age story cast with non-professionals from Jura (filmmaker Courvoisier’s home), HOLY COW follows Totone’s determination to win a local Comté cheesemaking competition (cash prize: €30,000), while he romantically pursues a competing farmer — whose bullying brothers are none-too-pleased — and clumsily steps up to adult responsibilities.

2024     90 MIN.     FRANCE     ZEITGEIST FILMS IN ASSOCIATION WITH KINO LORBER
IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Trailer

Reviews

“Lovely…Courvoisier makes a strong impression with this nuanced feature debut”
– Stephen Saito, The Moveable Fest

“A small but likeable coming-of-age tale that reeks of dung, grilled sausages, sweat and diesel oil. 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…Courvoisier has a clear talent for casting and directing non-professional actors.”
– Lee Marshall, Screen Daily

“A finely crafted debut feature… Refus[es] to succumb to the tropes of the [coming-of-age] genre. Courvoisier paints a portrait of an excessively wild young man who runs roughshod over his family, friends and even romantic partners… A deeply engrossing film. It has the richness and texture of a beautifully rendered novella, a modest tale, but not lacking in depth or insight.”
– Ankit Jhunjhunwala, Screen Anarchy