The Moo Man
In a quietly defiant stand against industrial farming, a maverick British dairy farmer chooses love over profit, forging extraordinary bonds with his cows in this funny, tender, and quietly political portrait of life on the margins.
“It has a sneaky, low-key charm.”
David Gritten, Daily Telegraph
“Blessed with a truly winning protagonist”
The Hollywood Reporter
““The Moo Man is a lyrical, gentle documentary on the challenges facing a small organic farm
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
“One of the best British documentaries in many a moo-n. This gentle, honest film keeps its audience enthralled from sunny start to tear-stained finish”
Nick Roddick, Evening Standard
“Moving and brilliant… An epic (platonic) romance between man and beast. Could 2013’s most heartbreaking love story take place between a man and his prize dairy cow?”
David Jenkins, Little White Lies
“Cogent but restrained in its politicking, The Moo Man contains plenty of wit, wisdom and compassion, as well as much bucolic charm.”
David Parkinson, Radio Times
Making the Film
The Moo Man was a self-funded film produced by Trufflepig Films (Heike Bachelier & Andy Heathcote), reflecting the filmmakers’ personal commitment to the story.
Premiere & Nominations
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, and later screened at numerous international festivals. It was also nominated for Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA)
Legal Challenge
At Sundance, farmer Steve Hook became a local celebrity, loving the Q&As and spreading his message about raw milk to international audiences. Upon returning from the festival, he was served by the Food Standards Agency for selling raw milk in a vending machine at Selfridges.
Kickstarter Release & Premiere
The Moo Man was the first UK film to fund its cinema release via Kickstarter. Most cinemas were sold out, and Ration, a star of the film, walked the red carpet at the premiere — and loved it!
UK Screenings & Law Change
The film’s cinema tour was mostly sold out across the UK. Q&As with farmer Steve Hook sparked debate and such public interest in the Food Standards Agency’s actions that the raw milk law in England was changed, allowing wider public access.
International Broadcast
The Moo Man was sold to Channel 4, Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes, reaching a wide audience internationally.
Other Films by Heike Bachelier
heike@trufflepigfilms.co.uk