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 undisciplined 18-year-old finds himself in charge of the farm and his seven-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.
French director Louise Courvoisier’s debut feature won the Youth Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes 2024, and the César Award (the French Oscars) for Best First Film.
“A 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. —Lee Marshall, Screen Daily
