Holy Cow (Vingt Dieux)

Two people sit outdoors on a large metal container in front of a rustic building. One wears a red T-shirt and gray shorts with hair in a bun; the other wears a green shirt and blue pants, holding a cigarette. Trees and bushes frame the quiet rural setting

Winner of the Youth Award (Un Certain Regard) at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival

18-year-old Totone spends most of his time drinking beers and partying in the Jura region with his group of friends. But reality catches up with him after the tragic death of his father. Totone is thrust into the unexpected and very adult role of looking after his younger sister and their failing family farm in the Jura section of France. Desperate to find a way to make a living, he sets out to make the best Comté cheese in the region, the one that would win him the gold medal at the agricultural competition and 30,000 euros.

A “verité” look at the hardscrabble life of French agriculture, this debut feature from Louise Courvoisier is simultaneously a moving coming of age story and an ode to the love of cheese.

The film serves as the kick-off to our annual French Film Festival and will feature a special presentation on Comté and cheese box curated by Rachel Freier of Cheese Club FLX and giveaways generously donated by the Comté Cheese Association USA.

(Cheese boxes are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Supplies are limited to the first 50 people.)

Our annual French Film Festival is supported by Albertine Cinémathèque and presented in collaboration with the Department of Romance Studies.

Albertine Cinémathèque is part of the French For All initiative by Villa Albertine – The French Institute for Culture and Education, and Albertine Foundation, and is made possible with the support from the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée (CNC).

Special thanks to Professor Claire Menard, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Romance Studies and the Faculty-in-Residence for Mews Hall and Loving House.

Part of our "French Film Festival" and "New Visions, New Voices" series. Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films.

About The Cheese Club FLX
Rachel Freier is an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional. She will talk about microbes, cheese stories and cheese travel for as long as you will let her. Rachel was part of the 2012 opening crew for the West Village staple, Murray’s Cheese Bar, on Bleecker Street where she developed her love for cheese over the course of four years. There she created the acclaimed Monger’s Table dining experience: a 10-course cheese dinner menu paired with unique beverages and cider. Her love of cider and work with the NY cider community has brought her to the Finger Lakes. Rachel defines herself as a Cheesemonger without borders, without a brick and mortar, she continues to offer pop-up cheese events, cheese classes, cheese catering services and access to good cheese.

Inspired by the stories of cheese and cheese makers all over the world, Rachel has embarked on her passion project: The Cheese Club FLX. The Cheese Club FLX showcases the incredible cheese traditions from cheese regions all over the world, offering unforgettable cheese experiences for club members and local cheese enthusiasts. Whether through curated in person events, the monthly cheese subscription box, or specialized cheese catering, Rachel’s expertise as a cheesemonger serves as a resource, creating a space where people can explore, taste, and connect over exceptional cheese, we are a cheese community.