Nominated at Cannes, this moving film has been released in theaters without much fanfare: a 'nini' milk thief

A luminous story about youth and rural life has arrived in theaters almost on tiptoe, without much promotion, despite having been selected in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. This French comedy-drama, which places a young man without much direction at the center of the story, has won over many critics.

Directed by French debutant Louise Courvoisier, the film offers a fresh, tender, and empathetic look at what it means to grow up in adverse conditions . Set in the French Jura region, where the famous Comté cheese is almost a character, The Perfect Recipe follows Totone (Clément Faveau), an 18-year-old with no job or motivation.

Her routine, marked by alcohol and failed conquests, changes drastically after the sudden death of her father , who made artisanal cheeses . Overnight, Totone must take care of her little sister, embarking on an adventure that oscillates between the clumsiness of navigating an adult world and tenderness.

The protagonist is a non-professional actor whose natural magnetism brings to life a character as misguided as he is endearing. Far from resorting to sentimentality or the rawest social drama, the filmmaker opts for a relatable narrative, without falling into clichés or artificial local color. The common thread is Totone's attempt to win a cheese competition with a prize of 30,000 euros , which pushes him to mature through mistakes and hope.

The film has been praised for its warmth, its use of first-time actors, and its lighthearted tone, which doesn't shy away from drama but doesn't wallow in it either. Although its theatrical release has been low-key, its festival run and word of mouth could make this film one of the year's small surprise titles for lovers of contemporary European cinema and heartfelt coming-of-age stories.