No doubt this brand new feature film in the Stories for Everyone series lives up to expectations.
• Also read: Opening of the International Children’s Film Festival: “It’s the great return of fairy tales for everyone”
Impossible to mention the “stories for everyone” without reliving the emotions of our childhood. Created and produced by Rock Demers, this film series is a monument to our cultural heritage whose characters or recreations populate our collective imagination (all I have to do is write “La guerre, la guerre…” for you to complete that can rest … with the intonation of the film).
In this context, “Coco Ferme” was a challenge that was mastered with flying colors by the entire film crew, from producer Dominic James to the young actors, bursting with freshness and naturalness.
Coco Ferme is the story of Max (Olivier Desgagnés, perfect), a nearly 12-year-old teenager whose father (Simon Lacroix, excellent) decides to move his son to the country. Max is not happy, to say the least, and in order to escape the boredom of the summer holidays, Max has the idea, with the help of Charles (Joey Bélanger, impeccable) and Alice (Emma Bao Linh Tourné, full of vivacity), a social media enthusiast .
The three friends quickly find unexpected help in the person of Tite-Bière (Benoît Brière, touching), a former butcher who has lost his business, wife and children and has descended into alcoholism. The trio, which has become a quartet, will manage to make its Coco Ferme shine far beyond the village.
Like the other “Stories for All”, “Coco Ferme” delivers some inspiring messages that warm the heart in these rather dark times. The value of friendship, the pride of a job well done – Benoît Brière’s lyrics will send shivers down the spine of the most jaded viewer – the belief in one’s abilities, in life, all subjects skillfully explored without ever falling behind to advise the parish sermon. Current topics such as local production, respect for animals or the peasant revolution in a time of omnipresence of large retail chains not only make an audience of all ages feel affected, but also feel involved in the topics presented.
Written with great intelligence by Dominic James and brought to life with infectious enthusiasm by Sébastien Gagné, Coco Ferme also shines with its mature and respectful way of addressing young people… and the whole family. A very nice success, especially from home, which always does a lot of good.
Rating: 4 out of 5
“Coco Ferme” comes to the dark chambers of Belle Province on February 24th.