Country Cabaret (Les Folies Fermières)
Country Cabaret, a farmyard Full Monty, is a mostly heart warming and endearing underdog tale inspired by the real experience of a dairy farmer facing liquidation who saved the day with cabaret.
Given two months to save the struggling farm that killed his father, the daydreaming optimist David (Alban Ivanov) drunkenly stumbles, by chance, into a cabaret bar, where he is star struck by an aerial silks display by Bonnie (Sabrina Ouzani). A new dream is hatched: a cabaret spectacular in his barn. David persuades Bonnie, ignores his doubters, including his mother (Michèle Bernier), his ex-wife (Bérengère Krief) and his prejudiced and embittered grandfather (Guy Marchand), and gets to work.
Country Cabaret, as a fish(es)-out-water comedy about unlikely performers follows a well-tested formula: a colourful array of artists audition, some well, some badly, all funny; a comically and chaotically diverse troupe are assembled; rehearsals and setbacks spark conflict, yet the show must go on. While the film’s style and structure does not reinvent the wheel, the novel context, coupled with consistent comedic performances by the ensemble cast, and a multitude of love stories, makes this a light-hearted and enjoyable exercise in escapism.
Cabaret, as an artform, has its origins in subversion, of critiquing and parodying the powers that be and the society that they have created. David by defying the banks and corporatisation while simultaneously building connection and resilience within his community, embodies the spirit of the Weimar-born genre. Country Cabaret deftly explores the dire consequences of poverty, such as marriage breakdowns, addiction and suicide, while never letting the humour slip for long.
Country Cabaret, with its large cast of characters, does struggle to give proper depth and dimension to some of the more minor characters; sub-plots don’t always lead to a conclusion, while the films’ ending occurs abruptly before it reaches the final destination. Led by Ivanov and Ouzani’s charming performances, these flaws, like David’s debt are forgiven.
3.5 stars
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