Holy Cow (Vingt dieux)
Louise Courvoisier | 2024 | 90 min | French with English subtitles | Rated 15 ⅼ
Totone’s carefree teenage life of drinking and dancing takes a turn when he must provide for his 7-year-old sister. Seeking income, he channels his energy into producing an award-winning comté cheese to claim a competition prize. Awards: Un Certain Regard – Youth Prize (Louise Courvoisier), Cannes Film Festival 2024. Lumiere Award, Best First Film (Louise Courvoisier) 2025. Prix Jean Vigo 2024.
“French cinema’s breakout hit of the year, 2025.” (The Guardian)
“A moving and humorous coming-of-age story.” (Time Out)
“This coming-of-age tale… is shot through with compassion and humour. The film is a testament to resilience in the face of hardship, and a hymn to the Jura region. Courvoisier’s images of the countryside ooze brightness and warmth, and the film takes care to authentically depict the community.” (Little White Lies)
“It doesn’t get more French than a drama about cheese. Holy Cow is the feature debut from director (and part-time farmer) Louise Courvoisier; it’s a social-realist drama that is the opposite of grim and miserable in its warm and often funny telling of a coming-of-age story about a teenager from a struggling family of comté-makers in the remote region of Jura.” (The Guardian)
Trailer: Holy Cow
Tickets: Book your tickets online or contact 0131 285 6030
Leaflet: French Cinema Season 2025-2026
Location:
Institut français d’Écosse (French Institute of Scotland)
Institute Library (1st Floor)
West Parliament Square
Edinburgh EH1 1RF
(The Institut français d’Écosse is fully accessible with step-free access.)
The French Cinema Season is being held in partnership with the Institut français d’Écosse (French Institute of Scotland). Founded in 1946, the Institut français d’Ecosse is a cultural centre promoting the French language and culture in Scotland.