Au Hasard Balthazar
Robert Bresson intentionally chose a Biblical name for the protagonist of his 1966 film, Au Hasard Balthazar, an allegorical tale of the lifespan of human existence. It chronicles the life of Balthazar, a humble donkey, from the innocence and joy of youth, to the weary advance towards death.
This film is broadly and quite rightly considered a masterpiece. It is an incredibly powerful film, yet it is delivered with such austerity and restraint - completely devoid of superfluous action or dialogue.
Au Hasard Balthazar is a study of the stages of life, and the suffering of human existence. Balthasar is at the mercy of his successive owners, and their pride and folly are expressed in the way they treat him. If this film weren’t so austere, it would be utterly harrowing to watch. As it is, it is unspeakably distressing (especially for animal lovers), and bound to dissolve all but the most hardened viewer to sobs.*
But it is a brilliant film, and essential viewing for any devotee of quality cinema.
Even if you can’t bring yourself to watch the film again (though it warrants saying that this film continues to reward with repeated viewings), the DVD is worth owning for the extras alone: a documentary “Behind The Scenes”, in which cultural luminaries such as Jean-Luc Godard, Louis Malle, Marguerite Duras, and Bresson himself, discuss the film.
It is also worth noting the difference between Bresson’s own interpretation of the relationship between Marie and Gérard, and that of the actors who portrayed them.
Speaking of actors, Anne Wiazemsky, who played the saintly Marie (who, like Balthazar, has not choice but to yield to the desires of those around her), went on to make a number of other films with noted directors such as Godard and Pasolini, as well as becoming a writer.
But the star of this film is, undeniably, Balthazar: a gentle beast of burden who cannot speak, yet who tells us so much about the human condition.
* Warning: Contains Spoiler
I did a lot of reading around to determine how the donkey’s convincing death scene was filmed; apparently he was given sleeping tablets to sedate him for the final scene.