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.
