2. Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)
This depression fest follows the fortunes of Balthazar - a donkey, and his owner Marie. They are separated by circumstances and they both go on to lead parallel lives. Balthazar is exploited in a cruel fashion by the many owners he has. Marie has a similar fate - suffering at the hands of others, however her destiny and Balthazar's destiny are quite different. Through the vessel of a donkey's eye, Bresson showcases the cruelty of much of life, but he is rigorous in avoiding sentimentality. Everything is presented in a very natural, austere way - there is not much music in the film and there are certainly never any histrionics - just sombre reality. The film is a study in saintliness and suffering whilst retaining nobility and Bresson achieves this through Balthazar's trials and the stoic nature with which he endures hardships. Lacking sentimentality, I don't think Bresson wanted us to cry our eyes out over a donkey but this film made me desperately sad and I did shed a tear - maybe because I am very fond of animals. My disposition towards cruelty to animals is one of extreme distress and I don't think I could do multiple viewings of Balthazar, even though the message of the film is transcendence over suffering. The scene where Balthasar dies in a field of sheep is desperately sad. Few films reduce me to blubbing but Au Hasard Balthazar is so solemn, it would make a statue weep.