La vache

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.

A peasant from remote village in Algeria gets an invitation to attend an international bovine show in Paris after years of applying for it. Although the villagers mock his devotion to his cow Jaqueline, they lend him money for the journey, as it is a village code to help the neighbours. Fatah and Jaqueline set off to Paris on foot after crossing the Mediterranean Sea. It's a bit like Ulysses in Homer's Odyssey; will he get there on time? The plot isn't original by any means, but the film conveys the old truth that the innocence and good humour can move even the most obdurate hearts.

This review will be very short.

With that said. While I loved this movie I found it frustrating that Fatah's Algerian community did not adequately prepare Fatah logistically for the LOOOOOONG journey. Walking from Marseilles to Paris with a cow and just a handful of belongings? I guess disbelief was indeed suspended. But I suppose that if Fatahs journey was made more comfortable / easier then there would be no story...

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.

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.