Both an oblique parable and an allegory of The Passion of the Christ. As such, it is a treatise on human cruelty that is often difficult to watch - since the barbarity is inflicted upon a blameless animal.
Yet this film is a profound meditation on the human condition since the donkey Balthazar is never shown as a victim – despite his suffering – and because humans are mostly shown as being more animalistic than he – especially the juvenile delinquents shown.
The performances from non actors are compelling, especially Anne Wiazemsky as the sad eyed, weak willed and unloved Marie. Sexual lust, domestic abuse, murder, smuggling, alcoholism, animal cruelty and malfeasance are the immorality shown, and the title suggests that animals should beware of human beings because so many wish to vent their personal frustrations upon them.
There is no real characterization to speak of only archetypes for different character disorders, such as overweening pride, sexual lust and volitional ignorance. This makes for an emotionally distancing effect that the paucity of likeable people on display exacerbates. Yet, this is one of the ultimate road movies, since we travel with Balthazar as he passes from owner to owner. And one of the best trawls through human folly filmed - with a dumb animal as mute witness to such folly. The plot thus goes around in concentric circles like a merry go round; becoming, in the process, an ascetic work of ultimate sainthood for a donkey named after one of the three wise men from the East bearing gifts for the infant Jesus!
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