Holy Cow (Courvoisier, 2024) - CIFF

Things don’t always turn out the way we think they would have happened, do they? You expect to be able to spend your youth partying and hitting on girls, then everything changes within one moment. Things go wrong and it’s a simple, “holy cow” – or “vingt dieux” in French. Swiss writer and director Louise Courvoisier captures the purity of learning the hard way what it’s like to be an adult, with a semi-comedic element. This coming-of-age story is not, perhaps, for the youth, but it is one that can connect with all audiences emotionally and comedically as well. 

Holy Cow follows 18-year-old Totone (Clément Faveau) and his friend group of local barflies, who spend most of their summer hopping around the drinking scene. Suddenly, Totone’s cheese-making father passes away and he finds himself responsible for his 7-year-old sister, Claire (Luna Garret), and must now earn an income. With the help of his friends, Totone sets out on a mission to earn the gold medal at the agricultural competition, and make 30000 euros, by making the best Comté cheese. 

‘Holy cow’ indeed, with such a straightforward idea, Courvoisier creates a different take on the typical coming-of-age tale and also adds cows and cheese. It feels effortless but provides ways for audiences to connect to each character and create an emotional bond with them and what they experience. Part of this, in fact, is provided by the professional acting by the actors – surprising in some ways being how they are so young. The banter, emotional and physical connections they develop with each other drives the story forward and keeps audiences involved.

It is clear that Courvoisier knows the French countryside well and utilizes it in Holy Cow. The story is simple, it follows Totone as he must go from party boy to a caregiver for his younger sister and provide for them both. The still camera movements, mixed with the colours chosen, provide a gentle tone to the film. While focusing on the characters, Courvoisier still manages to showcase the gentleness of the French countryside, and the subtle beauty nature can evoke without even noticing. 

For her first ever feature film, Louise Courvoisier creates a beautiful portrait of coming-of-age in the most uneasy circumstances and still manages to add elegance and simplicity to it. Holy Cow had its world premiere back in May 2024 at the Cannes Film Festival in France and has only received a limited theatrical release in a small number of countries. In the UK, it screened at the Chester International Film Festival on Sunday 23 March 2025. It is due for a limited cinematic release in the UK on 11 April 2025.