Au Hasard Balthazar

Like any film by Robert Bresson, 1966's Au Hasard Balthazar provokes contrasting responses, and while many critics have hailed it as a masterpiece, others--as critic Pauline Kael observed--'may find it painstakingly tedious and offensively holy.' A minimalist tale of a donkey named Balthazar who experiences kindness and cruelty as he is passed from owner to owner, the film is populated by a variety of sinners and saints alike, and whether it's interpreted as a simple animal fable (as Balthazar suffers nobly at the hands of his handlers) or viewed as a very Catholic story (with strong parallels to the life of Christ and his unbearable burden of the sins of mankind), you've still got to admire Bresson's ability to observe humanity without judgment, and his ability to stimulate powerful emotions. Packaged with two essential guides for a greater understanding of Bresson's approach to cinema--a 2004 video interview with film scholar and devoted "Bressonian" Donald Richie, and a lengthy 1966 TV interview in which Bresson discusses the movie in substantial detail, along with fellow directors Louis Malle and Jean-Luc Godard, and members of the film's cast and crew--this Criterion Collection version of Au Hasard Balthazar may not be for everyone, but remains one of Bresson's finest, revealing further, deeper meanings upon subsequent viewings. Recommended. (J. Shannon) [Blu-ray/DVD Review—May 29, 2018—Criterion, 95 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1966’s Au Hasard Balthazar features an excellent transfer with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras include the 1966 French TV program 'Un Metteur En Ordre: Robert Bresson' (62 min.), a 2004 interview with film scholar Donald Richie (14 min.), and an essay by film scholar James Quandt. Bottom line: this French classic makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]