Artois the Goat

Artois the Goat presents a delightful and quirky exploration of love, loss, and cheese-making, enveloped in a charming landscape of romance and culinary pursuits. Mark Scheibmeir, in the role of Laban Williams, heads a cast that brings this original and whimsically styled indie love story to life.

Laban, an introverted chemical sanitary supply engineer, appears as someone whose life echoes simple pleasures and routine. However, deep within his mundane routine lies a passionate love for his vivacious girlfriend, Clarissa, played beautifully by Sydney Andrews. Clarissa imbues Laban's world with color, vibrancy, and spontaneity, qualities which starkly contrast and inadvertently complement Laban’s stoicism. Their relationship, though contrasting, creates a balanced synergy that binds their lives together in an intricately knit pattern.

When Clarissa suddenly decamps to another city for her job leaving Laban completely off balance, he covertly embarks on a whimsical journey to win her back. Rather than going directly after her, he focuses on bringing to life a shared dream they had—together.

Cheese, or more specifically, the enticing goat cheese from the fauld farms of Artois, becomes the metaphorical and literal pivot around which Laban's passion revolves. An old story shared between both Laban and Clarissa about the best goat cheese that could possibly be made becomes the fuel which drives his purpose. Laban naively decides to craft the world’s finest and most sophisticated goat cheese to win back his beloved. The lengths to which he is willing to go to realize this ambition gives the film its unique twist that adds a generous dash of humor to the plot.

His cheese-making journey unfolds against the charismatic backdrop of the Texan countryside, setting off his urban work environment's consistent rigidness. Here we meet an ensemble of eccentric characters who support Laban in his determined yet unusual pursuit. They provide necessary comic intervals and help underscore the film’s overall charming ambiance.

Stephen Taylor Fry delivers a standout performance as Virgil Ross, a wildly eccentric goat herder who becomes Laban's mentor throughout his cheese-making quest. Virgil, a rugged and borderline hermit-like personality, is not just the master cheesemaker, but also becomes the philosophical guide who spurs Laban to question and challenge himself about what's truly important in life.

Mark Meir strikes an admirable balance in his performance as Laban, highlighting his character’s growth from an ordinary man to a passionate explorer ready to weave his dream into reality. Sydney Andrews as Clarissa captures emotions gracefully, breathing life into a character whose spirit influences their shared journey even from a distance.

Artois the Goat may leave you pondering about simple pleasures transforming into profound passions, and how our quietest desires often hold the power to redefine our world in unimaginable ways. The innovative intersection of romance and culinary passion, bolstered by the film's rustic charm, alternative storytelling, and the ability of the cast to breathe life into their characters, makes it an intriguing watch.

Director Cliff Bogart and Kyle Bogart manage to capture the simplistic beauty of a story about love, separation, self-discovery, and cheese. The audience is taken on a delectable journey filled with laughter, self-doubt, determination, and so much heart, showing how sometimes the most bizarre of life's quests can prompt the most significant self-discoveries.

Cinematographer Chris Ohlson showcases different emotional hues through his vibrant and stunning visuals, which only add to the film's candid, rustic allure. Be it the sterile corporate corridors of Laban's workplace, the bustling cityscapes, or the serene Texan countryside, every setting plays a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of Laban's journey.

Whether you are a fan of unconventional romances, culinary adventures, or just an admirer of unique cinema, Artois the Goat makes for an entertaining slice of life experience. It offers a tasteful blend of comedy, drama, and romance, making it as mature, complex and sophisticated as the cheese Laban seeks to create. This hidden indie gem serves as a gentle reminder that sometimes the most peculiar path could lead to the most unexpected and delightful destination.