Trifole

There is a great deal to admire here. The cast is the equal of that truly delightful dog, and the story feels everywhere and nowhere all at once as it flips from Dalia to Igor, at first having little in common, but gradually, as things progress, Igor’s satisfaction with the pace of rural life starts to impress itself upon Dalia, mending her resolve and ambition.

Traditions are people’s stories, connecting them to their ancestors, to this patch of ground. Knowledge is passed down literally—recipes, sewing patterns, hand-drawn truffle maps—but also symbolically; myths, fables, fairy tales. You can’t put a price on any of it, and that, ultimately, is what Trifole is all about.

Unfortunately, this heartfelt film resonates most strongly through those majestic landscapes, not via the story that unfolds.