What an ass!
Now, before a wave of condemnation descends upon this evaluation, be patient. This “ass” is an actual donkey and the endearing star of the Polish film EO, which captured the Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.
The film, director Jerzy Skolimowski’s homage to Robert Bresson’s Au Hasard Balthazar, tells the story of a very contented circus animal who trots delightedly around his daily activity. Little does he know that when animal rights activists will get the donkey “freed,” his life is about to become a different kind of circus as he is hurled into various encounters in the Polish countryside.
He is certainly not the first cinematic member of the genus equus. There has been Francis, the popular Talking Mule who made seven films back in the 1950’s; the animated Donkey, who stole the comedic show in four Shrek films; and such stalwarts as Black Beauty, Trigger, Flicka and the Lone Ranger’s sidekick, Silver. But very few other films have focused solely on the viewpoint of such a magnificent creature, whose gaze upon frogs in the water, or a spider in its web, evinces such humanity and empathy. Just don’t think for a second that this was a trick or good acting.
“I think it’s one of those things that actually attracted us to work with animals,” stated co-writer and producer Ewa Piaskowska during the film’s Cannes press conference. “They cannot act. They’re always in the moment and being themselves.” She continued by explaining that the filmmakers had decided to create an environment which could stimulate the donkeys (there were six of them) enough to act naturally in the way that Jerzy intended for them to act. Each was prepared for different backgrounds, different environments – such as closed up rooms or forests – and all sorts of different situations. “We sort of stimulated them as much as we could so that they could act naturally within the scene.”
While the donkey might not have been able to act or even communicate, that fact sure didn’t stop Skolimowski from imaging what his star could have been thinking, especially when he bellows “EO!”
“I think those screams convey something like, ‘Look at me, I’m a living being just like you,’” asserts the director. “’Just like you I have desires. I too need love, care, affection, security. Why do you disregard me? Why do you treat me like an object?’”
Part of the movie’s mission is to reach as many human hearts and minds as possible; and hopefully to inspire an audience to discuss the worldwide practice of factory farming of animals for their meat and fur.
“May my donkey speak to you from the screen,” adds Skolimowski. “Look into his eyes.”
Now you might agree. What an ass!