THE surprise hit of the Sundance Film Festival starring a dairy cow, her maverick farmer and a supporting cast of 54 Friesian Holsteins comes to Theatre Mwldan in Cardigan this week (September 12 and 16) as part of a short Welsh tour.

Described as the “number one movie” of Festival, Scottish director Andy Heathcote’s indie documentary The Moo Man (98min, U) follows a year in the life of Steve Hook and his unruly herd as they battle to keep their family farm afloat.

Undisputed star of the show is leading lady Ida, a shapely Friesian Holstein with a natural talent for showmanship and Steve’s secret weapon as he pulls out all the marketing stops when he breaks from the big dairies to go it alone.

We accompany Steve through night-time calvings and punishingly early dawn milkings, as all the while he builds a doorstep delivery service for the herd’s organic pintas. It’s a job he undertakes with passion and great dollops of humour but one he knows is impossible without the co-operation of his cows. A farmer all his life, he’s still they’re number one fan.

“The film started out being about one farmer bucking the trend by not going down the big numbers route. In the end, though, what came across most strongly were the cows’ characters. They’re just beautiful animals,” says Steve.

A heart-warming and often hilarious tale set on the stunning Pevensey Levels in East Sussex, The Moo Man takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that brings you face to face with the reality of farming in an era driven by supermarket economics.

In a charming, understated way the film challenges our relationship with food, the environment and the person we rely upon for both – the farmer.

You can watch The Moo Man trailer at http://themooman.co.uk/

or https://vimeo.com/68796801

For tickets, call the Box Office on 01239 621200