EO

The story itself - a bland morality tale about the ethical treatment of animals - definitely isn't Eo's strong suit, but the visuals mostly make up for that.

Polish movie Eo takes its cue from the famed Robert Bresson movie Au Hazard Balthazar, which also followed the travails of a donkey on its journey from owner to owner. Having never seen that movie, I cannot really judge whether director Jerzy Skolimowski puts a new spin on the tale or not, but the picture definitely leaves a strong impression in more than one sequence.

The story itself - a bland morality tale about the ethical treatment of animals - definitely isn't Eo's strong suit, but the visuals mostly make up for that: from the stroboscopic use of striking red in the opening sequence - the colour is a recurring theme in the film - to an array of filmic close-ups on the titular donkey and some surprising, awe-inspiring sets and backgrounds, this area of the picture never loses your attention.

Unfortunately Eo loses focus in the final act, with a nonsense Isabelle Huppert detour and a climax that doesn't nearly bring the emotional wallop it could and should have.

release: 2022

director: Jerzy Skolimowski

starring: Sandra Drzymalska, Isabelle Huppert, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz