Country Cabaret / Les Folies Fermière

Madeleine Rayner

Jul 2

At movie theatre again. French with English Subtitles.

Rating:3 /5

Hard work and big ideas aren't enough. David's dairy farm is on the brink of liquidation.

When he chances upon a dazzling nightclub performance by Bonnie Starlight, inspiration strikes. What if he turned his big old barn into a country cabaret? Not just for entertainment, but to promote local food producers, including his mother's delicious cheese.

A crazy plan, for sure - which is exactly why he loves it! David has to convince sophisticated "City Girl" Bonnie to live in a converted barn loft out in the middle of nowhere and work around the clock to make a great show out of nothing.

Finding local talent is no small feat either, but together they manage to assemble a zany cast of characters and create a troupe. Through blood sweat and tears, and a whole lot of laughs, they not only build a great stage and get their act together, they also learn a thing or two about themselves and each other.

Everything seems on track for the big opening night, until David's traditionalist grandpa steps in, hell-bent on putting an end to their follies. Can they save the show and save the farm?

This movie is based on a true story of a French farmer who did exactly that to save his farm from going bankrupt. At the end of the movie is are photos of the real farmer and the cabaret performers.

It was entertaining, and funny in parts, but it was a bit slow for what it was supposed to be doing. It's not quite 2 hours long, but would have been better if it had been more finely cut.