La vache et le président

A traditional family film based on a safe premise - the friendship between a child and an animal - "La Vache et le Président" proves above average in the genre and can be seen with equal pleasure by kids (not too young though) and parents. The credit is for helmer Philippe Muyl who does not regard children as morons and nor takes their parents, forced to accompany their offspring, hostage.

Of course this is a feel good movie but the tone is never over-sentimental. Also the director/writer (assisted by co-writer Philippe Le Dem) sees to it that serious themes be examined throughout. And the list is impressive: the cynicism of high-ranking officials, the inaccessibility of the President, the hardships widows and orphans are bound to to through, the BSE epidemic... A good introduction to adult society for our little ones.

Also noticeable is the fact that Muyl does not direct his young actors as if they were playing in a CHILDREN's movie but as if this was an ADULT pic, which allows the grownup actors to play just like in a "normal" psychological film, bringing subtlety and nuances to their characterization. And this cruel tale gives them more than one opportunity to shine.

Philippe Muyl, who takes things seriously, never chooses the easy way out in the dramatic or sentimental sequences. And when situations or characters border on cliché, he gives them enough flesh to make them believable. On top of that, the plot is enhanced by more than one unexpected detail (The cow in the streets of Paris and in the metro, the intervention of the Hindus of Paris).

If you have kids at least eight, don't miss this one.