Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival

MY DONKEY, MY LOVER AND I

Expired September 13, 2021 3:45 AM
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1 film in package

On an impulse, Paris schoolteacher Antoinette decides to follow her married lover Vladimir and his wife and daughter on a six-day summer hike along the trail described by Robert Louis Stevenson in his outdoor classic Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes. But Antoinette soon realizes this impromptu vacation is more than she bargained for: Vladimir is nowhere in sight, her romantic misadventure tickles all the gossips on the hiking circuit, and her traveling companion is a recalcitrant donkey called Patrick. Caroline Vignal’s second feature delightfully reinvigorates the old French film trope of the lovelorn vacationer with a gentle comic touch, the occasional slapstick flourish, unblemished landscapes, and a star-making turn by Laure Calamy, long a magnetic supporting actress in films by leading directors like Alain Guiraudie and Justine Triet. With perfect timing, a hint of eccentricity, and a beguiling emotional openness, Calamy manages to find both the pain and the humor in the universal experience of being alone when you had something—or someone—else in mind. Special mention must be made of Patrick the donkey, who delivers a winning performance as the stoic beast of burden who proves to be Antoinette’s occasional therapist and steadfast friend. 


“The script is sharp and the cinematography (Simon Beaufils) is beautiful. This is a comedy-drama and there are lots of laughs…” – The Australian


“Calamy’s performance has rightly been awarded for its superb shading, but let’s not forget the donkey, brilliant as her straight man. Who says nobody likes a smart ass?” – Sydney Morning Herald


All publicity materials must include the following credit line: This film is part of Young French Cinema, a program of UniFrance and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. 



  • Year
    2020
  • Runtime
    95 minutes
  • Language
    French
  • Country
    France
  • Director
    Caroline Vignal