Balthazar
1966
Directed by Robert Bresson
Has it really been two weeks since I last posted? I have been extremely busy and today only managed to squeeze this movie in while I was unpacking. Unpacking has to be one of the biggest pains in the asses (besides when people say anyways) as it always takes about triple the time that I think it will. ANYWAY, this wasn't exactly the welcome back gift that I would have wanted.
Balthazar is a donkey is passed around from owner to owner. First of all, isn't that the name of a demon? I am pretty sure it showed up in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Regardless, Balthazar's journey is paralleled by his most beloved owner Marie. They discover zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry, I fell asleep and my head hit the keyboard. Man, this movie was a snore that was just way too sentimental for me. Additionally, Marie is just a super annoying character that had me yelling at the screen more than once. In one scene, Marie demands that a farmer let her stay in the barn. She then goes on to offer him a kiss for his kindness, assure him that no one knows she is there, and hands him all her clothes. Goodness, I hope she never has daughters.
I also don't really understand what the message is here. That the meek shall inherit the Earth? That is just upsetting.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
The donkey was untrained for the most part, making the movie especially hard to film.
Feeling bad I so strongly disagreed about Demoiselles de Rochefort.. I can wholeheartedly agree on this.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I have learn't I don't like Robert Bresson.. This and 'diary of a country Priest' were tough to get through.. and I've tried some others with similar feelings.
Yeah I know. And I don't think it is just my atheism that is getting in the way of me liking his movies either.
DeleteOh, another one that I love and consider one of my favorites. Sorry you didn't like it more. However, you did make a Buffy the Vampire slayer reference, and Buffy is one of my favorite shows, so I will it slide this time :)
ReplyDeleteOMG I am ridiculously excited that you love Buffy. Isn't it the best? I have a portrait of Spike in the room I am sitting in right now.
DeleteOK.. I remember this conversation now...
ReplyDeleteI think we agree that this is a film about religious .. OK, lets be specific.. Christian, Catholic faith, and that we are being shown a far from subtle comparison between an abused, but patiently suffering Donkey and Christ.
Fine..there are a lot of films out there from people of faith, and obviously the makers wish to pass on the 'good news' of their view on this.. Thanks for the thought guys, but please forgive me if I pass...
(Wanna bet that Mel Gibson loves this one..All that suffering, all that belief.. and a bit more suffering thrown in as well)
Well, it is in my opinion a case of a director who is so keen on telling his subtext story that he does not care that the apparent story sucks and makes no sense. IF you like that, great, but it does not cut it for me. I am impressed you gave it two stars.
ReplyDelete