“My Donkey, My Lover, and Me” is yet another story about a woman who ventures into the wilderness and finds herself. But to writer-director Caroline Vignal’s credit, this understated romantic French comedy proves more dashing and idiosyncratic than its reliance on this trope of feminist empowerment suggests.
On the one hand, there’s a donkey that’s kind of a life coach, bellowing whenever a particularly toxic man approaches.
Laure Calamy, from the “Call My Agent!” series, plays Antoinette, a reckless and desperately romantic teacher, who we first see leading her students in a strangely committed collective performance. They sing a love ballad and, unbeknownst to the children and (most) audience members, the number doubles as a secret serenade for Antoinette’s lover, Vladimir (Benjamin Lavernhe), the married father of one of his students.
Too bad that Vlad the father of the family has to cancel the lovers’ retreat they had planned when his wife supposedly takes him on a week-long hike through the Cévennes National Park. Antoinette responds by chasing him, reserving the same arduous trek in hopes of “tripping” over her man – no matter his inexperience in hiking or his preference for heels.
Like Vladimir, Antoinette hires a donkey, Patrick, whose name you won’t forget — our heroine shouts it a hundred times. Although Patrick initially refuses to walk, he proves to be an excellent listener and judge of character.
Deliriously ga-ga, but also naive and sympathetic thanks to Calamy’s grounded performance, Antoinette encounters different kinds of people on her journey – angry preachers, know-it-all hikers, bored checkpoint workers who tell her. ‘encourage madness – and it eventually succeeds. a real roll in the hay with Vlad.
The film — and its blindly determined heroine — has more in common with “Legally Blonde” than something like “Wild,” though its bright, beautifully rugged landscape and winding pace create a more laid-back overall tone. Despite Vignal’s intentions, the drama seems less effective as a result – as do the physical comedy episodes. It doesn’t matter, sometimes just pleasant travel has its charms.
My donkey, my lover and me
Unclassified. In French, with subtitles. Duration: 1h37. In theaters.
