Au hasard Balthazar

Au hasard Balthazar is a famous movie from 1966. It was directed by Robert Bresson. The story follows a donkey named Balthazar.

He lives in the French countryside near the Pyrenees. The film shows his whole life from a baby to the end. Balthazar is given to many different owners over the years. Some people treat him with kindness. Other people treat him very cruelly. This movie is known for having a deep emotional effect on people.

Many critics say it is one of the greatest films ever made.

Robert Bresson had a very special way of making his movies. He used a style called asceticism. This means he kept the filmmaking very simple and plain.

He often chose actors who were not professionals. He did not want to teach them how to act. Instead, he wanted them to feel real emotions. This helped the movie feel more like real life. He used these non-professional actors to create a specific kind of realism. This way, the audience has to decide how to feel.

Bresson was inspired by several different books and ideas. He believed the story was inspired by a part of a novel. This novel was written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky between 1868 and 1869. The book is called The Idiot.

He also used ideas from a book called La Joie by Bernanos. The character Marie was inspired by that story. Bresson even wanted the donkey's death to be like a priest's death in that book. He used these ideas to explore how humans act.

There are many important people and details in this film. The actress Anne Wiazemsky played the main character, Marie. She worked very closely with Bresson while filming.

The cinematographer was Ghislain Cloquet. He helped create a style with soft, glowing light. The editor was Raymond Lamy, who had worked in French cinema since 1931. The film won three prizes at the 1966 Venice Film Festival. One was the San Giorgio Prize. This prize was given to art that helped civilization progress.

This movie has left a big mark on the world of art. Even though it is a sad story, it teaches us about empathy. Empathy is when you understand how someone else feels.

Famous critics like Roger Ebert loved the film. He said the movie was a "cinema of empathy." It also inspired other filmmakers in different places. In 1977, an Indian director named John Abraham made a film called Agraharathil Kazhutai. This movie was based on Balthazar. Today, the film still has a very high rating from critics.