After his father’s sudden death, 18-year-old Totone must care for his sister and revive their farm—he enters a Comté-cheese competition with shaky resources and questionable plans to save their future.
SESSIONS
Wed 15 Oct 4:00pm ncp
Sun 19 Oct 5:00pm
Mon 20 Oct 7:30pm
ncp - no complimentary passes
DIRECTOR
Louise Courvoisier (debut feature)
ACTORS
Clément Faveau • Maïwène Barthélemy • Luna Garret • Dimitry Baudry • Mathis Bernard
1h 32m • Rated M for mature themes and rough language • Drama, Coming-of-Age • France
Language: French
Critics roundup
Louise Courvoisier’s Holy Cow is a warm, rough-edged coming-of-age drama set in rural France, where 18-year-old Totone struggles to save his late father’s farm and care for his sister by entering a local cheese-making competition. Critics have praised the film’s authenticity and Courvoisier’s unsentimental eye—capturing the mud, sweat, and quiet beauty of country life without resorting to cliché.
Clément Faveau’s performance as Totone has been widely admired for its naturalism and restless energy, embodying the frustration and tenderness of youth under pressure. The film’s tactile detail—particularly in its depiction of cheesemaking—adds depth and texture, while its humor and humanity keep the tone buoyant.
Though some reviewers find the story familiar, Holy Cow has been celebrated as a heartfelt and confident debut—earthy, compassionate, and alive with the rhythms of real life.