Gorgeous black-and-white cinematography marks every scene—indeed every shot—of Robert Bresson’s art-house perennial Au Hasard Balthazar (1966), a methodically paced, symbolic film that centers on the life of a donkey named Balthazar. That may not sound like the most appealing material for a feature film, but they key word is “symbolic.” This starts quite early when the Balthazar’s new owner’s baptize the donkey, thereby implicitly (or maybe explicitly) imbuing the animal with a soul. It is through this that Balthazar can be said to be able to become saintly. His brief, happy existence in his youngest days give way to his generally miserable life as a much abused beast of burden. Don’t get the idea that this is in any way a cute film in the Disney sense of animal movies. In other words, Brighty of the Grand Canyon this isn’t. This is a dark film about the unfairness of life and about the suffering inflicted, not just on animals, but on human beings by other human beings. It very much deserves its art-house cred.
Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Au Hasard Balthazar Friday, July 18, at 8 p.m. at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com
That may not sound like the most appealing material for a feature film
When he’s right, he’s right.