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"Au Hasard Balthazar" is a deeply moving tragic drama about the terrible sufferings of an innocent donkey. Despite its seemingly secular subject matter, the film is much more serious and profoundly religious than Mel Gibson’s " The Passion."The film has received a lion’s share of critical acclaim. It has appeared on many critic’s lists as one of the best films of all time including the 2002 Sight and Sound poll alongside such better known classics as "Vertigo," "Citizen Kane," "8 1/2," and "2001: A Space Odyssey." It was directed by Robert Bresson who also made "Pickpocket," "The Trial of Joan of Arc," and" Diary of A Country Priest." He was very influenced by Catholicism and he is known for doing films with religious themes. He was also a big influence on both Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader. The film carries religious significance. The donkey undergoes terrible suffering with dignity and he can be seen as an emblem for saintliness or martyrdom. It begins with a medium close-up of Balthazar as a baby joyously sucking on his mother’s breast. The film’s blissful, paradise-like beginning makes the terrible denouement all the more tragic. Balthasar changes hands several times, and this is an excuse to delve into the lives of the owners and how their lives intersect. A similar plot framework was used in Robert Altman’s made for TV film "The Gun" which followed the path of a weapon. His first owner is Marie, a charming but overly naïve young woman with a childhood sweetheart named Jacques. They christen him early in the film and they are extremely affectionate towards the loveable donkey. Things go downhill for everyone when the donkey is sold and the couple is separated. Balthazar ends up being the property of a baker. His delinquent employee, Gerard constantly mistreats Balthazar when he takes the donkey to deliver bread. If that isn’t bad enough Gerard also seduces Marie and mistreats her. She runs off in shame and becomes a prostitute. The story also follows Balthazar, as he becomes a popular circus performer and then the property of a drunk. If any film can convince the audience that animals deserve rights, this is it. "Au Hasard Balthazar" has many layers of meaning, and viewers may have to see the film several times to understand it. But it is definitely worth the time and effort.
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