Sadly Over-hyped

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

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.

La Vache is a French comedy describing Fatah, an Algerian peasant from an obscure village, whose dream is to take his beloved cow Jacqueline to the Paris agricultural fair and competition. With the help of his fellow villagers, Jacqeline and Fatah cross the Mediterranean and start walking across France to Paris. Fatah meets many good people who help him and love his good humor and innocence, while he becomes a TV and Web celebrity and his progress is watched by millions in France, and also by his native village. Will he make the competition? Will Jacqueline win? You'll have to watch the movie to find out. I had a few laughs and enjoyed Fatsah Bouyahmed acting Fatah, but for the most of it one gets the feeling that one has seen this movie many times. In a nutshell it is blow-by-blow a parallel to The World Fastest Indian. Both heroes cross the sea (or the ocean) to get their beloved possession (the cow Jacqeline or the antique Indian motorcycle) for a world- class competition, both get financially helped by their compatriots, both meet with sometimes serious and often funny obstacles, both encounter romantic possibilities, both have to get to the competition at the last minute (and are denied entrance). Morevoer, both heroes project good humor, perseverance, and their non-blase naivete presents simple wisdom that puts the convoluted and frantic West way of life to true test. Despite these superficial similarities, The World Wld Fastest Indian is an intelligent, refined and meaningful humorous drama, while La Vache is Junior High level slapstick. Although Bouyahmed is endearing, he is a far shot from Anthony Hopkins. And last, but far from least, Jacqueline is just a cow (and not terribly attractive at that), whereas the Indian bike has a soul. As for photography, Fatah and his Cow walking through French cities is far from the beautiful, lyrical night scene of Vittorio De Sica walking his elephant through empty Rome in Hello Elephant. A harmless small movie, OK for early teens and those that would like to go back to that age.

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.