My Donkey, My Lover & I

A comedy that takes the journey as a metaphor for life, almost like a Road Movie, but on a donkey, through the beautiful countryside of the Cévennes. The big difference, to the typical Road Movie, is that the path here is constructive, invites reflection, the enjoyment of life, the moment, the company, and not destructive, nihilistic, terminal, as happens when traveling by car on the tarmac.

Laure Calamy has a distinct presence, pleasant and relaxed, almost sensual. Patrick, the donkey, also acquires an unexpected role, as the unlikely companion on this journey of self-knowledge and vital rebalancing, in contact with nature and animal life.

A pleasant and surprising film, insofar as it offers more than what it promises.

From the opening frame this film had me . Quirky delightful engaging Antoinette takes off on what is first a stalking hiking holiday But gains so much more the scenery is unbelievable . And it followes the hiking trail of Robert Louis Stevenson The adorable donkey will win over any cold heart . Laughter all the way through with great comic timing.

This charming, bucolic comedy is undeniably the most beautiful surprise that French cinema has given us lately. At times, it made me think of 'Wild' (with Reese Witherspoon), but without the dramatic side of it. It's more a 'light' comedy, with a 'screwball' side to it. Caroline Vignal initiates a dialogue with Stevenson's own novel, 'Travels With a Donkey in the Cévennes', a book that has since become one of the pillars of modern 'travel literature' and that is linked with the emotional journey of Antoinette. The latter is played by Laure Calamy who finds with this project her first leading role that allows her to fully display her tremendous acting skills. In addition of being in every frames and frequently alone on the screen, facing an imperturbable donkey, she composes a complex comic performance. Oftenly funny without ever appearing like an idiot, she succeeds to express, between her moments of touching clumsiness, a strong sensitivity though marvelously avoiding any boring lament tirades. My Donkey, My Lover & I is a very sweet portrait of a very likeable human being, and her sincere energy is so irresistible you can only follow her in her great journey.

Between a beautiful postcard from the Cévennes, a donkey road trip, and a nice slice of life that begins as a farce on adultery. I had a great time in this universe, far from the fat and heavy lines of a lot of films released these days. Try it.

"Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's "Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes", MY DONKEY, MY LOVER & I revamps the story to the modern day, schoolteacher Antoinette (Calamy) impulsively takes the hiking trip in the Cévennes hoping to track down her married lover Vladimir (Lavernhe), who vacations with his family in the environs. Paired with a donkey named Patrick, Antoinette must learn to maneuver her mulish traveling companion all by herself. One of the film's successes can be contributed to the funny two-play between Antoinette and Patrick (actually played by two different donkeys, one meek, the other refractory), the hiking provides a conduit for Antoinette to speak out loud of her relationship with Vladimir, to vent out the whys and wherefores of staying in an extramarital affair, actually Vignal's script provides enough insight to make Antoinette's choice plausible."

read my full review on my blog: Cinema Omnivore, thanks.