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IMDbPro

Au hasard Balthazar

  • 19661966
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
20K
YOUR RATING
Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
The story of a mistreated donkey and the people around him. A study on saintliness and a sister piece to Bresson's Mouchette.
Play trailer1:33
1 Video
70 Photos
  • Drama
The story of a mistreated donkey and the people around him. A study on saintliness and a sister piece to Bresson's Mouchette.The story of a mistreated donkey and the people around him. A study on saintliness and a sister piece to Bresson's Mouchette.The story of a mistreated donkey and the people around him. A study on saintliness and a sister piece to Bresson's Mouchette.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
20K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Bresson
  • Writer
    • Robert Bresson
  • Stars
    • Anne Wiazemsky
    • Walter Green
    • François Lafarge
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Bresson
  • Writer
    • Robert Bresson
  • Stars
    • Anne Wiazemsky
    • Walter Green
    • François Lafarge
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 95User reviews
    • 107Critic reviews
    • 98Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:33
    Trailer [OV]

    Photos70

    Anne Wiazemsky in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Anne Wiazemsky in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Philippe Asselin and Anne Wiazemsky in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Pierre Klossowski in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    "Au hasard Balthazar" 1966 Argos Films
    Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Pierre Klossowski in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Jean-Joël Barbier in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    François Sullerot in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Marie-Claire Frémont in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Nathalie Joyaut in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Philippe Asselin and Nathalie Joyaut in Au hasard Balthazar (1966)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anne Wiazemsky
    Anne Wiazemsky
    • Marieas Marie
    Walter Green
    • Jacquesas Jacques
    François Lafarge
    • Gérardas Gérard
    Jean-Claude Guilbert
    Jean-Claude Guilbert
    • Arnoldas Arnold
    Philippe Asselin
    • Marie's Fatheras Marie's Father
    Pierre Klossowski
    Pierre Klossowski
    • Merchantas Merchant
    Nathalie Joyaut
    • Marie's Motheras Marie's Mother
    Marie-Claire Frémont
    • Baker's Wifeas Baker's Wife
    Jean-Joël Barbier
    • The Priestas The Priest
    Guy Renault
    Jean Rémignard
    • Notaryas Notary
    Guy Brejac
    Mylène Van der Mersch
      Jacques Sorbets
      • Police Officeras Police Officer
      François Sullerot
      • Bakeras Baker
      Henri Fraisse
      Gilles Sandier
      Dominique Moune
      • Director
        • Robert Bresson
      • Writer
        • Robert Bresson
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

      More like this

      Mouchette
      7.7
      Mouchette
      Pickpocket
      7.6
      Pickpocket
      A Man Escaped
      8.3
      A Man Escaped
      Diary of a Country Priest
      7.8
      Diary of a Country Priest
      L'Argent
      7.4
      L'Argent
      The Trial of Joan of Arc
      7.4
      The Trial of Joan of Arc
      Ordet
      8.3
      Ordet
      Four Nights of a Dreamer
      7.4
      Four Nights of a Dreamer
      L'Avventura
      7.8
      L'Avventura
      The Devil, Probably
      7.1
      The Devil, Probably
      The Rules of the Game
      7.9
      The Rules of the Game
      Lancelot of the Lake
      6.9
      Lancelot of the Lake

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • 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.
      • Goofs
        In the very last shot of the film the shadow of the camera man or someone else enters the picture from the bottom right.
      • Quotes

        Gerard: Lend him to us.

        Marie's mother: He's worked enough. He's old. He's all I have.

        Gerard: Just for a day.

        Marie's mother: Besides, he's a saint.

      • Connections
        Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Seul le cinéma (1994)
      • Soundtracks
        Piano Sonata No.20 in A Major, II. Andantino (D. 959)
        Written by Franz Schubert

        Performed by Jean-Joël Barbier

      User reviews95

      Review
      Top review
      9/10
      Not for Everyone
      Bresson takes a lifetime (that of Balthazar) and molds it into a commentary that is bleak and painful. I would remind those who are so annoyed at the scope of this, you need to take the time and the setting to have a fix on the themes and ideas put forth here. If Balthazar had been born in Salt Lake City, his life would have been different. Like all situational films, the artist weaves the events based on a select milieu. No, I don't understand all of the intricate metaphorical visuals, but each character was real and acted in a way that would portray that reality. I suppose one could criticize the idea that a donkey would encounter so much pain, that that's the story that unfolds. If he had stayed in a pen for his entire life, the film would not exist. By the way, I'm no intellectual, but I get tired of those who think that being coarse and dismissive of intelligent efforts in film because the writers and directors are creative and artistic, is as tiresome as those you are putting down.
      helpful•4
      0
      • Hitchcoc
      • Nov 8, 2020

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • May 25, 1966 (France)
      • Countries of origin
        • France
        • Sweden
      • Languages
        • French
        • Latin
      • Also known as
        • Balthazar
      • Filming locations
        • Guyancourt, Yvelines, France
      • Production companies
        • Argos Films
        • Athos Films
        • Parc Film
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $45,406
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $8,436
        • Oct 19, 2003
      • Gross worldwide
        • $45,406
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 35 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.66 : 1

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