If I could sum up the Polish fantasy film “EO” I would say, “And the Oscar for Most Expressive Eyes Goes to EO the Polish Donkey”.
EO the donkey embarks upon an incredible journey without Sancho Panza on his back. Yes he is the cutest donkey in town with big expressive eyes that can melt your heart. EO leads viewers on through modern-day Poland exposing the foibles and saving graces of humanity but the foibles outnumber the graces. Yes like in Don Quixote EO even faces a wind turbine.
EO has a well measured temperament but as many of us dog and cat owners realize animals have a soul. They feel pain, joy, anger, frustration, love and fear. There is no such thing as a dumb animal. EO has a wide range of emotions but he simply can’t verbalize them in a sophisticated fashion. His eyes in many instances do the talking and on one occasion his hind legs!
Not getting didactic here but EO’s journey has many parables in it from Hansel and Gretel, Don Quixote and Winnie the Pooh. EO starts as a circus performer for a bankrupt Polish Circus then a mascot for a Polish soccer team and an aborted transport truck trip to a sausage factory just to briefly describe a few of EO’s adventures.
It is not for me to reveal all the adventures but they will enthrall often and at other times anger and disgust you. But it will be an odyssey you will not easily forget. You may even be haunted by it. The film is destined to spark an emotional response perhaps even questioning, let’s not get too Paul McCartneyish, consumption of meat.
How does EO’s journey end? THE SOUND before the credit’s roll may say it all. This is a film not suitable for children as they may be frightened by the two murder scenes. In fact some viewers may have difficulty identifying THE SOUND. If you do you may shout in disbelief and perhaps in anguish and then say how can humans be that mindless and stupid.
As a last comment I was 14 years old on a Greek island and heard the most bizarre sound one morning. I later found out it was a donkey braying. Later that day on the road outside the village a farmer was beating his donkey. It was an awful scene and I still remember it. I was comforted to see villagers intervene. When I saw that horrible aspect of inhumanity perhaps it was that donkey that sent me on a voyage to vegetarianism (except for turkey twice a year on family occasions and where there is no seafood on the menu). To that poor donkey in Greece in your memory I urge all of you to see EO. I have returned to Greece several times since and I have not seen any donkeys. Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski.
A very innovative use of music here ranging from classical, metal and opera.
RKS Film Rating 94/100.
You can see the trailer here and by the way the film opens in Canada for a theatrical run on November 25th https://vimeo.com/759936765
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