Directed by Mohamed Hamidi and co-written with Alain-Michel Blanc, The Cow is a French-Belgian comedy that hit theaters on February 17, 2016. Featuring performances by Fatsah Bouyahmed, Lambert Wilson, and Jamel Debbouze, the film follows the tradition of heartfelt road movies. After making a notable impact in cinemas and at festivals, it will be broadcast on television on France 3 on Monday, February 23, 2026, during the early primetime slot.
Fatah, a humble Algerian farmer, lives in a small village where his cow Jacqueline holds a special place in his daily life. When he receives an official invitation to showcase his animal at the International Agriculture Fair in Paris, his dream begins to take shape. Having never left his rural home, he sets off for Marseille before journeying across France on foot, heading towards the Porte de Versailles.
Throughout the journey, this coming-of-age story unfolds as a series of unexpected encounters, blending rural hospitality, cultural misunderstandings, and spontaneous acts of kindness. Beneath the lightheartedness of these situations, the narrative crafts a contemporary fable about brotherhood and the movement of people within a diverse France—without ever falling into heavy-handed preachiness.
The project stems from Mohamed Hamidi’s desire to depict the French countryside through a road movie. A former camp counselor, the director claims familiarity with these regions, which he explores with camera in hand. The idea was inspired by a story shared by Fatsah Bouyahmed, based on an uncle passionate about agriculture and dreaming of visiting the Salon de l’Agriculture. Hamidi cites influences like Henri Verneuil’s La Vache et le prisonnier as well as American road movies such as Little Miss Sunshine and A True Story, appreciating their nuanced portrayal of travel and human connections.
The filming took place between Morocco (for scenes set in Algeria) and France. The production used several identical cows for health and logistical reasons. They chose the Tarentaise breed, known for its larger size and brown coat, to ensure a more authentic visual appearance. The animal was trained by animal handler Pierre Cadéac, based in Fontainebleau. The film was showcased at the International Comedy Film Festival of Alpe d’Huez in 2016, where it received the Grand Prix and the Michel Galabru Interpretation Award for Fatsah Bouyahmed. It was also nominated for Best Comedy at the European Film Awards.
Accessible and engaging, the film adopts a warm tone, driven by the chemistry between Fatsah Bouyahmed and Jamel Debbouze, who improvises many scenes. It’s aimed at a broad family audience, especially those who enjoy travel stories and socially conscious comedies. Through its central motif—a cow making its way across the country—the film continues a cinematic tradition where animals serve as symbols of connection, reminiscent of classics like The Cow and the Prisoner or certain European rural comedies.
The Cow
Film | 2016
In theaters from February 17, 2016
Television broadcast: February 23, 2026, on France 3
Comedy | Duration: 1h31
Directed by Mohamed Hamidi | Featuring Fatsah Bouyahmed, Lambert Wilson, Jamel Debbouze
Original title: La Vache
Countries: France, Belgium
Through this pastoral and modern journey, La Vache offers a fresh take on travel as a window into human nature, blending social commentary with lighthearted comedy. Its screening on France 3 provides a chance to revisit this popular 2016 hit, rooted in rural traditions and a peaceful perspective on community life.
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