Au hasard Balthazar (1966) - film review

This film follows the life a donkey, Balthazar, and the lives of the people he encounters.  He begins as a plaything for a child, but soon becomes a working animal.  He is subjected to cruelty, rejection, but finds some relief in companionship and – briefly – stardom as a circus attraction.   Both the donkey and his first owner, the young girl Marie, suffer at the hands of the sadistic leader of a motorbike gang.

This is a deeply poignant film.  Although Christian imagery is present throughout (particularly towards the end), the film is genuinely moving without being sentimental.  The viewer rapidly begins to identify with the donkey Balthazar and to see the world through his eyes.  Bresson is uncompromising in the cruelty that is meeted out to the donkey and the main human character, Marie, and the sense of injustice that such cruelty can go unpunished is one of the films main themes.

On the minus side, the pacing of the film is a little disjointed, being frustratingly slow in some places, yet moving so fast in others that it is difficult to keep up with all of the changes in ownership of the donkey.  Also, as the film is presented from the viewpoint of a dumb animal, with the human cast having less of a presence, it is far less accessible than Bresson’s other films.

However, Bresson’s skill as a director and the power of Bathazar’s story make this a very moving and impressive piece of cinema.

© James Travers 2001

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