IO stayed with me for days. This film is experienced and digested in the flesh. There are not many words in it so it is impossible to distance yourself from it by intellectualizing it. The places where animals live; the situations that happen to them - nothing we didn't know about - but shown from a different perspective - perspective of a donkey, a creature that is dependent on humans: it's owners (caretakers?) and the laws regarding animals.

I was touched and moved by something I had hitherto passed by indifferently: the fate of animals that are not given names. This film was difficult for me and appealed to me at the same time.

And last but not least I'm always very happy to see Isabelle Huppert on the screen.

The circus was your home but now it's closing, new outcomes are ahead, life's recomposing, a journey has begun, there'll be sorrow and some fun, lots of being led around and often roaming. You'll take the opportunities, that you're presented (you don't have a choice), and quite often you will feel, like you're resented, poorly treated by humans, but not always, some are friends, though they'll always seem to be, distressed, tormented.

The life of a donkey, the people it encounters, for good or bad, and the array of farms, fields, pens, containers, sanctuaries and otherwise that are used to restrict it, often quite unsuccessfully, as it's pushed from pillar to post - just as most animals are on their journey to the abattoir or slaughterhouse, does it remind you of anyone you know?

No pun intended - and something that can be said about our main character here. A tragic, strong and silent hero - of sorts. And also a donkey! I have to admit, that I do not know much about donkeys or horses for that matter. I do love animals - and I remember that when I was young I had one specific donkey coming to the beach house we were at ... and all of us kids riding it.

As a kid you do not really think too much about it. What the animal must feel or think. The movie tries to get you into the head (space) as good as possible. I am not sure if it is scientifically proven that donkeys have a muffled sense of hearing. The movie does portray it so. Again I am just going to take its word for it.

I also thought the movie would be a lot funnier - but it is as life - no pun intended. Ups and downs ... being freed in the beginning does not mean the donkey is actually free. It may be even more restraint after it is being "released". And all because of how humans interact with it ... and yes they are not always nice. And yes it does not always make sense - human behaviour towards the animal.

We get class difference (when it is being alongside horses for example, compare the treatment of both animals) and many other things where the viewer can decide what he wants to see there. The movie can get pretty dark and there is a callback to the very first scene later on ... not something many will cheer (I hope). Also the ending is quite ... well "sudden" to say the least. All things must end I assume (no pun intended) ... very well shot and the score (music) is amazing too!