La vache

A nice story about an ingenious Algerian peasant and his beloved cow. After many letters, he is admitted at Pasris agricultural fair. The support of the comunity makes the trip to France possible.

And, in large measure, this is all.

The rest can be reduced at cultural cliches, easy humor, Lambert Wilson,Jamel Debbouze , the effort of Fatsah Bouyahmed to explore the possibilities of his character.

You know the story and the end is so predictable.

A very soft film , inspiring some smiles, remembering Algerian obsession in different tone.

Nothing new but a reasonable film , remembering, maybe too much, others about similar theme.

"La Vache" is the story of Fatah, an Algerian farmer whose dream is to participate in the Paris International Agriculture Fair with his Tarentaise cow called Jacqueline.All his friends and neighbours are making jokes about this dream.But one day he receives the official invitation for his participation.After some debates the elders and friends of the village will help him for the costs of traveling to Paris.Then begins the real adventure of Fatah and Jacqueline !! As they have time enough they will join Paris on foot.Some incidents (a night in a karaoke, drinking pear liquor,a photograph of a kiss, an arrest) but also nice encounters , his stay in the house of the count, the love letter, the friendship and the solidarity of the people. And another important thing: the media, Fatha and Jacqueline begin to be famous on TV and YouTube: many people are waiting for them in Paris. I shall not escribe the end of the film. It's a story about encounters, about tolerance, friendship and solidarity. But it's also a story with quite a lot of humour and humanity: the philosophical talk of Fatah and the count about the life,the problems (Algeria should be champion of the world of the countries with problems) and the love (the first declaration of love for Naïma). I didn't know Fatsah Bouyahmed before this film, but it's a very good comedian. I enjoyed very much this story.

I was ready for this to be goofy and weird but it was actually a really well made movie with interesting characters and dialogue that i laughed out loud over. I wish there were more movies like this.

Fatah, a peasant from Algier needs to bring his cow Jacqueline to Paris for visiting a contest. So he does all to get her to Paris. On their way, Fatah and Jacqueline face all kinds of people. It's a kind story with philosophical touch. I specially liked the acting of Fatsah Bouyahmed, who acts Fatah. He gives the main character an intelligent, but also naiv touch. Over the most playtime, I was tied to the screen, because I wanted so hard, that he succeeds. In that case the route is the goal. Fine movie, I like it.

This here is not a complacent review out to be over-enthusiastic about the Algerian-French phenomenon, but rather one that looks at the genuine quality of this very refreshing, honest, solidly crafted and well inspired contemporary comedy.

The plot is simple, and it's the adventure in the various places it takes the lead 'Fatah', the journey including the different people, sensitivities and emotions he discovers, the Algeria vs France contradictions and intrinsic antagonisms, and ultimately, his epiphany while being away from home in discovering more about himself from a newer perspective.

The film overall is very well crafted, perfectly coherent and follows a very good rhythm. The jokes are good, the humor is lively and very culturally-charged and finally there are many little references/remarks/hints with implication and symbol that require a particular wit in understanding carefully laid throughout the playtime.