Mohamed K
A transcendent cinematic experience that defies easy categorization, blending elements of drama, allegory, and spiritual inquiry to create a deeply affecting portrait of the human condition. Through the life of a donkey named Balthazar, the film explores themes of innocence, cruelty, and the search for meaning in a world marked by suffering and injustice.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/12/24
Full Review
Morvia 8thsin/ 3
The film may have much appreciation in the professional world as one of the greatest films of all time but these are noted in focus or in the spotlight aside from the animal as first time actors with much to prove in this regard but in present day in my opinion there is a scene in which the donkey's tail has paper attached and is lit on fire then actually shown with smoke on its tail with the donkey struggling/distressed-I cannot tolerate this in the movie and the movie has to put it into the improbable meaning to show a near appearance of the donkey as what was done when the rebellious character hit the donkey numerous times meaning continue the mind frame set as with the striking, as the donkey looked fake as it should have been if it wasn't as the actions of the donkey were not shown. This would then continue the scene where with artificial donkey with tail lit on fire with paper attached then do a sound disagreement with a donkey's animated voice and not the donkey in portrayal but could have been the identical disagreement as far at was shown and heard in previous in the people having the donkey want to pull the cart but this time with only heard which would then promote a distance from distress/cruelty as shown with artistry. In more with then having a character catch this rebellious person in the act as children playing nearby and were curiously viewing so to speak while in doing this and a child questioning it which would then reflect into when the donkey was first met in the field by a child wanting it otherwise it is cruelty to animals and cannot give high praise for this film which is not acceptable as far as I'm concerned to not put artistry in case of cruelty. The movie should have focused on how society has distanced itself from the animal meaning in portrayal demonstrate how society has shifted views from cruelty into humanity and for this would then symbolize for the world in that matter which then in my opinion would have made this movie a true work of art.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
05/30/24
Full Review
Shioka O
I watched this after EO (2022), found that it was a homage to this. from now on, I can only see donkeys as a sad symbol... such a emotional human tale.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/25/23
Full Review
dave s
On the surface, Robert Bresson's Au Hasard Balthazar tells a pretty simple tale. It is the story of the life of a donkey, from birth to death. It's really that simple and that is a part of the beauty of the film. However, it is more an examination of the best and worst that humanity has to offer, love and compassion on one hand, exploitation and unrelenting cruelty on the other. Throughout everything, Balthazar reacts with blind, unthinking compliance, much like his human counterparts. Like most of Bresson's films, it is austere throughout, its simplicity masking its thematic complexity. It is a thoughtful and heartbreaking movie that will linger in the mind of the viewer long after the final scene fades to black.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Au hazard Balthazar in every frame has exceptional morality, intimidating representation of humanity as a whole manifesting in the grotesque nature of people getting satisfaction over dominants over animals! Opening in a delicate arrangement of piano notes interrupted by a donkey's whaling cries (possibly Balthazar's birth.), then back to the melancholy piano to the titles in a crumpled-up background. The very first shot is of young Balthazar feeding on his mother already representing the beginning of life, nurturing, and the miracle of creation. A hand slowly stroking Balthazar's content back is Marie the woman in form of kindness wanting a friend to keep but over her shoulder a stern father, stating no in his heavy authority. Already the film has shown us the cruel, unjust yet reasonable dissections of the world. A family of loving kids represents childhood playing with the donkey in the hay, a excises in poetry shot of a swinging chair, and in the background grooming the donkey. Baptizing represents religion, love heart engraved on a bench, the cruelness of whipping, hard labor, being materialized and hooves metal is all extremely scary from Balthazar's perspective of the world. Pitch folks chase like Frankenstein starts leading Balthazar's journey finding open gates almost like it's presenting a passage from hell to heaven. Strikingly shot, purposefully cruel characters looking down upon the donkey with no feelings. Fate made a hay carriage start breaking down leading to the blame on Balthazar which is all humanity's tendinosis. Lying, meanness, and inhumane thoughts brought out physical emotions from the donkey's eyes next to a high horse. Years go by no breaks, unwanted, unloved, and heartbroken. Contrasting parallels upon the narrative in dark and light composition. Dizzying shots of Balthazar walking endlessly by director Robert Bresson's eye for nature then bringing out the intensity inducing sounds of rattling carriages to build tension and then silence with slowly creeping low piano keys lifting the moods. Youth is destroyed, innocence vanished by the darkness of the world. Illness is presented by a bedridden small girl strangely feeding the donkey salt. Balthazar cheers up the children as the essence of childhood is fully captured in one short sequence. Only 9 minutes into the feature and already Au Hasard Balthazar has almost covered everything wrong and right about humans, that's why this is one of the grandest films ever made. I was being reached on an emotional, thought-provoking level hardly any films give me. The main piano score music plays then rudely interrupted by a loud tractor representing the hard work humans go through to get to what everyone wants out of life, love, affection, safety, and purpose. We work because we have to serve society unless you're ill seen early into the film. Marie represents many important aspects of society's statures femininity, beauty, pure-hearted, and gentleness but she's placed within a terrifying circle of evilness. A brutal transition from Marie and her kind father to a gang of motorbike hoodlums pouring oil on the ground represents to me the endless void of crime in a saddening world. Balthazar with dread on his face is about to face bullying, the gang is going to pursue them but the audience already knows before something happens as Bresons direction is flawless. Hardly any dialog is spoken in the first thirty minutes almost acting like a silent feature. The gang's first response is "A donkey neat, that's modern.". The biker winks at the woman then the father without causing trouble (being outnumbered) whips the donkey quickly. Animals sense bad people but the bikers follow them as the left open the gates of heaven. The demons so to speak take revenge for not being noticed or feeding into their childish antics. Slowly walking Marie looks for leaves just like Balthazar looked for to eat in scenes prior is reflecting on Marie and Balthazar that they are both the same. They are beautiful, same morals, and live within a problematic world. Marie makes Balthazar a pretty flower, leaf coved crown almost like in the bible in a humble scene. Balthazar's expression is poignant he's cleanly crying with joy looking back at her as she sits down to 10 seconds of silents apart from crickets. Suddenly she's Powerless peaking through the narrow door watching in dismay of incoming trouble. Building again Bresons techie focuses on hands and feet shots for tension The shot slowly the biker hands slide ominously across the once scared bench of childhood hopes and dreams. He tries to touch her so she runs into the house as Balthazar is involved in horrific Dragging, nipping, taunting, punching. Transitioning to choirs in church praying for god then the evil biker is there who will sing to bells ringing like the donkeys being a reminder. Bullying Balthazar continues, father in trouble from rumors then the camera moves inwards to Balthazar as a sign of heavy Obligation. Marie is too scared to make moves against Gerald and at the same time friend, Jacques takes rejection awful leading to no help feeling like a vicious circle of a feature. "Nothing changed" is stated as a beautiful shot of Balthazar turning and looking straight at the camera. Church fraud is keeping the father up at night trying to be evading depression, inner dark feelings, and isolation. Marie cries as she comes caring comforting Balthazar in utter raw performance that is something unique about the approach of Robert Bresson. Backgrounds are deeply textured, outbursts are very spontaneous. The acting is very simple just coming across as everyday human interactions being stripped of their emotional depth that could somewhat put people off at times. The spaces in which characters occupy the same world, mindset as the donkey Balthazar looking for themselves. Balthazar may also be representing the purest example of the perfect outlook on life frolicking, harmony, realities of existence that are embodied cruelly by the image of the poor donkey's life, Balthazar rebels against his owners but often goes back to being a plaything for juvenile delinquents! Tenderness is rare in this feature set to the irresistible symbol of humility. The plot is an escalating disaster from Gerald's manipulation of Marie and the use of Balthazar as a tool. The feature is a simple illusion, a commentary of power, bleak and painful most of the duration.
Virtually every aspect is profoundly touching being shot in black and white, French rural countryside is a
Cinematic space to support metaphors, inner sadistic plans like cruelly setting fire to Balthazar's tail as he suddenly won't move for him in bread triad, then a car almost saves the act but he continues. Gerald's mother deep down doesn't trust him with Marie and he stole money once before. Mother gets him a radio, and a new bike with a boost of confidence if he even needed it. Gerald manipulates every one around him getting what he wants most for self-satisfaction. Almost marrying Marie from the scene in the car sexually stalking her on her belly, hair as she cries is heartbreaking. The biker gang beat up a drunker man testifying for murder then he pays his radio as Balthazar sings in desperation about being his prisoner. Eventually, Balthazar is turned over to Gerard's accomplice; he hides guns and tools in his bedroom. A criminal is suspected of murder, then in snowy cinematography, I thought he was about to show remorse to the shivering donkey shockingly. But no this didn't happen as it tricked the audience. Balthazar used up and ill is about to be put down is then rescued by the sweet bearded man (so it seems.) Donkey begins a new life as a guide animal to the drunken man who swears to god in an illumining moon shot never, to drink again. Painters explore scenic views while talking about the art behind glistening waterfalls. The drunken man turns quickly calling Balthazar satan in a fit of rage he scars him off with a bottle. Stumbling into a circus attraction now cruelty demonstrated by a disregard for feeling. enclosed cadgers consisting of a starring tiger, disheartened polar bear, shy monkey, close-up eye of an elephant. I adore the surreal scene where the donkey solves multiplication problems as he seems happy in expression sadly for the final time. Balthazar is captured again by the drunken man called Arnold revealed as he comes into a fortune in good luck. Mother tries to persuade Marie not to go ahead with this toxic relationship meanwhile firecrackers are set off scaring Balthazar in the process. Gerald smashes up the mirror, bottles in jealously of Arnold's rich lifestyle as they gave him a gun to kill a police officer. An empty magazine then again represents fate in many forms of capacity. Arnold passes away before Balthazar is being sold at auction into utter misery in the form of an abusive merchant violently wiping Balthazar to turn the wheel for power, water only getting brief rest, food, and certain glimpses of hope. He abuses Marie with disgusting morals saying "Life is nothing more than a fairground." Marketplace for money that's how stale he sees the world in numbers and figures. The bike gang beats up Marie stripping her naked while leaving the father in despairs as Jacques's marriage is off, just as he returned to add levity. The final scene attains a timeless quality with Balthazar old, weak wandering into a herd of sheep with no sound until the bells thematically appear. The circular nature of the story seems to show our connection to animals, people, nature, and morality.
François Lafarge as the spite full son of the local baker worked wonders reappearing in different stories.
The film traces both of their hustle fates embarking upon abuse of all forms from Balthazar several bitter owners, beloved beast burdened with vindictive scorn. Cute, long fuzzy ears and big black eyes do not save this instant created by Gerald's crew as escapes the police but Balthazar is shot! We are empathizing with his sense of cold alarming doom. Balthazar's final sacrament is phenomenal as I cried at the ending which is very rare for me, that's how powerful the waves of sheep, bell sounds, and death of the saint donkey impacted me.
Bresson's pure cinema after making the equally as masterful "A man escapes." used performances in a method of acting. Approach working mostly. Au Hasard Balthazar has the greatest opening and ending of any film in cinema history regardless if some audiences find the pacing slow. I highly appraise the artistic meanings and is added to my list of greatest films ever made. 5/5 Danny Kay's in-depth review. Watched on Criterion Collection. the second viewing of this masterpiece on 30th April
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/27/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Simply put, a masterpiece.
The film follows the life of a donkey, but it does that in a nearly poetic way. Robert Bresson is brilliant in his directing style, because he avoids the usual anthropomorphizing of the animal, that is present in many Disney and other animal movies.
It's a classic.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/25/23
Full Review
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