A realistic look into the hardscrabble life of French agriculture is the subject of “Holy Cow”. Simultaneously a coming-of-age tale as well as an ode to the love of cheese, this low key, charming film will be screened by Rivertown Film on Wednesday, July 9th at the Nyack Center (58 Depew Ave).
Set among the rolling slopes of Jura, in France’s eastern region, “Holy Cow” traces a young man’s path from carefree, callous youth to adulthood after a life-altering tragedy. Totone becomes the sole caretaker for his younger sister and, after his cheese-maker father disappears from their lives, sells his equipment and takes a job with another producteur de fromage (cheese producer). The film’s director, Louise Courvoisier, grew up on a farm, and she imbues this world with piquant details. The shots of lived-in spaces and faces and landscapes convey both beauty and isolation. Courvoisier cast the film with mainly non-actors and the naturalism shows. Totone starts to work at a family that produces and prizewinning Comte cheese. Totone soon begins to produce his own cheese – and as his skills progress, so does his personal growth. The film avoids sentimentality because the director is more interested non showing human complexity rather than generic uplift. It should be noted that “Holy Cow” won a special “Youth Prize” at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
There will be discussion after the film with Scott Young of Nyack’s Scott & Joe Cheese & Charcuterie, and with Jessica Kesselman, American Cheese Society, Certified Cheese Professional. The Community Partner is Scott & Joe Cheese & Charcuterie, Wine Bistro and Gourmet Foods.
The film begins at 8pm and doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets are $13/General
Admission, $11/Students & Seniors, and $9/Rivertown Film Members More information can be found at rivertownfilm.org.
