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Au Hasard Balthazar
(1966)
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Title: Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Anne Wiazemsky | ... |
Marie
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Walter Green | ... |
Jacques
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François Lafarge | ... |
Gérard
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Jean-Claude Guilbert | ... |
Arnold
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Philippe Asselin | ... |
Marie's father
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| Pierre Klossowski | ... |
Merchant
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Nathalie Joyaut | ... |
Marie's mother
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Marie-Claire Fremont | ... |
Baker's wife
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Jean-Joël Barbier | ... |
The Priest
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Guy Renault |
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Jean Rémignard | ... |
Notary
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Guy Brejac |
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Mylène Weyergans |
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Jacques Sorbets | ... |
Police Officer
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François Sullerot | ... |
Baker
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
The sad life and death of Balthazar, a donkey, from an idyllic childhood surrounded by loving children, through adulthood as a downtrodden beast of burden. His life is paralleled with that of the girl who named him, and as she is humiliated by her sadistic lover, so he is beaten by his owner. But he finds a kind of peace when he is employed by an old miller who thinks he is a reincarnated saint... Written by &view=simple&sort=alpha">Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>
Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Release Date:
25 May 1966 (France) See more »Also Known As:
Au Hasard Balthazar See more »Filming Locations:
Guyancourt, Yvelines, FranceBox Office
Opening Weekend:
$8,325 (USA) (17 October 2003)Gross:
$39,388 (USA) (12 December 2003)Company Credits
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company contact information
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1
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Merchant: I believe in what I own. I love money. I hate death.
Marie: You'll die like everyone else.
Merchant: I will bury them all.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Balthazar was an untrained donkey during most of the filming, which made Bressons's work a real challenge. The only scene for which the donkey was trained was the circus math trick. See more »Goofs
The "for Sale" sign that is on the fence when Balthazar runs through the gate is different to the one seen in close-up. Also, when he runs through the gate, the sign is in shadow but in close-up it is in full sun. See more »Quotes
Marie: Don't you believe in anything?Merchant: I believe in what I own. I love money. I hate death.
Marie: You'll die like everyone else.
Merchant: I will bury them all.
See more »
The films of Robert Bresson have a special place in the history of cinema for their sheer poetry unmatched by any other director past or present. The films are austere and precise in the extreme. Even the emotions have been deliberately drained out; histrionics are non-existent and use of music minimal. Like poetry, it's not everyone's cup of tea. However, for those who develop the taste for it, the impact is indescribably beautiful.
Au Hasard Balthazar is the pinnacle of his artistic achievement (followed closely by Mouchette).
It's the story of human exploitation and cruelty to animals as well as to other humans. The protagonist is a donkey at the receiving end from his various owners, ranging from sadists, drunks and money-minded. The only one who has some soft spot for him is a young girl, who herself is a subject of exploitation and cruelty by some of the same people. The last scene of death of the donkey among a flock of sheep is among the finest in the history of cinema.