User reviews

Between a beautiful postcard from the Cévennes, a donkey road trip, and a nice slice of life that begins as a farce on adultery. I had a great time in this universe, far from the fat and heavy lines of a lot of films released these days. Try it.

A comedy that takes the journey as a metaphor for life, almost like a Road Movie, but on a donkey, through the beautiful countryside of the Cévennes. The big difference, to the typical Road Movie, is that the path here is constructive, invites reflection, the enjoyment of life, the moment, the company, and not destructive, nihilistic, terminal, as happens when traveling by car on the tarmac.

Laure Calamy has a distinct presence, pleasant and relaxed, almost sensual. Patrick, the donkey, also acquires an unexpected role, as the unlikely companion on this journey of self-knowledge and vital rebalancing, in contact with nature and animal life.

A pleasant and surprising film, insofar as it offers more than what it promises.

When a film is well written and remains faithful to the basic feeling for which it was wanted to make, jobs like this are obtained. After watching the movie I finished with a smile on my face, sometimes a fairy tale story is necessary even if it is not about a white horse and it is not necessarily a true prince, but the magic is always there for those who know where to look.

A sweet little movie and a couple of things you may not know about Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde. Beautiful landscapes and gentle people all around in this dreamy production.

"Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's "Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes", MY DONKEY, MY LOVER & I revamps the story to the modern day, schoolteacher Antoinette (Calamy) impulsively takes the hiking trip in the Cévennes hoping to track down her married lover Vladimir (Lavernhe), who vacations with his family in the environs. Paired with a donkey named Patrick, Antoinette must learn to maneuver her mulish traveling companion all by herself. One of the film's successes can be contributed to the funny two-play between Antoinette and Patrick (actually played by two different donkeys, one meek, the other refractory), the hiking provides a conduit for Antoinette to speak out loud of her relationship with Vladimir, to vent out the whys and wherefores of staying in an extramarital affair, actually Vignal's script provides enough insight to make Antoinette's choice plausible."

read my full review on my blog: Cinema Omnivore, thanks.

In kanopy, it's listed as my donkey, my lover and i; in imdb, it's antoinette dans les cévennes. When vlad can't go away with antoinette on a vacation, she decides to follow him anyway. But there's one problem. Vlad's vacation will be spent with his own wife and daughter.... on a long, difficult hike in the french mountains. And the group antoinette is in disapproves. (why would she tell them anyway?) things go okay. Until vlad's wife confronts her on the trail. And then her donkey starts acting up. It's simple but cute. Moves quite slowly. Part of the charm is the beauty of the countryside. Not a lot happens, but antoinette learns a few things before it's over. Beautiful scenery of les cévennes in françe. For the details of stevenson's actual journey, see the travels with a donkey entry in wikipedia. Directed by caroline vignal. Inspired by robert L stevenson's book.

This charming, bucolic comedy is undeniably the most beautiful surprise that French cinema has given us lately. At times, it made me think of 'Wild' (with Reese Witherspoon), but without the dramatic side of it. It's more a 'light' comedy, with a 'screwball' side to it. Caroline Vignal initiates a dialogue with Stevenson's own novel, 'Travels With a Donkey in the Cévennes', a book that has since become one of the pillars of modern 'travel literature' and that is linked with the emotional journey of Antoinette. The latter is played by Laure Calamy who finds with this project her first leading role that allows her to fully display her tremendous acting skills. In addition of being in every frames and frequently alone on the screen, facing an imperturbable donkey, she composes a complex comic performance. Oftenly funny without ever appearing like an idiot, she succeeds to express, between her moments of touching clumsiness, a strong sensitivity though marvelously avoiding any boring lament tirades. My Donkey, My Lover & I is a very sweet portrait of a very likeable human being, and her sincere energy is so irresistible you can only follow her in her great journey.

I made it through an hour. I'm not this big prude, and maybe the French are just more sophisticated about these things. But it's hard for me to be lighthearted about adultery. People get hurt. And she's the teacher of his kid for God's sake. And the plot and her incompetence about things, and her sentimentality about animals, are annoying. So it's wrong to give a mule a whack, but OK to cheerfully commit adultery, as if there isn't another party who is going to get hurt? Even if the adultery bit didn't bother me, it's not compelling. Her interactions with the donkey are not particularly amusing. The lead is winsome, but also rather silly and naive. If you can get the movie free on Kanopy, OK, but I wouldn't pay for it.

Strong script, well acted, beautiful mountain scenery, great original music... some very funny moments, and some intelligent insights. Highly recommended.

One of the most funny movie I have ever seen. You have to see it! Marvellous actress and such a nice love story between her and the donkey.

From the opening frame this film had me . Quirky delightful engaging Antoinette takes off on what is first a stalking hiking holiday But gains so much more the scenery is unbelievable . And it followes the hiking trail of Robert Louis Stevenson The adorable donkey will win over any cold heart . Laughter all the way through with great comic timing.

I didn't like it all all and gave up after about an hour. I didn't like the whole premise of a grammar school teacher sleeping with her student's married father and then imposing herself on their family vacation, even going so far as to sleep in their cabin. It wasn't cute, romantic, or funny, it was disgusting.

Laure Calamy is a fine actress and I have enjoyed her performances in Call My Agent and other movies. She still does a great job in this role. It's just a sucky role.

One nice thing was the pretty scenery of hills and meadows so I am rating this movie two stars.

I watched it in French with English subtitles.

Of course,it's not a masterpiece,but this kind of movies are know what they are and aware of what they want to show to the viewers.

This is not as symbolic as other movies in cannes(i know the last year film festival was canceled) so basically everyone can watch it and understand the point of the movie and still,have a good time with their family.

French movie '' My Donkey, My Lover, and I '' is a romantic comedy with emphasis on the comedy and a kind of coming of age, as the main character overcomes herself, discovers what she really wants and deserves, and forms a deep and strong bond with her Donkey, Max.

The scenery, first of all, was impressive and, especially if you love tracking, was a nice introduction to the French countryside.

Also, the performances were strong, especially by the main actress who was delightful.

And yet, the ending was rushed and was messily handled.

Also, the story was, in the end, just okay.

So, overall, five out of ten.

I loved this movie! I had just watched Benjamin Lavernhe in the movie Délicieux (in Netflix) and Laure Calamy also in the Netflix series Dix pour cent (Call My Agent) and I love them both. Antoinette dans les Cévennes, titled My Donkey, My Lover and I in English, is a delightful comedy. Nothing serious, nothing cerebral, only with a bit ridiculous but very funny situations, it is an emotional and hilarious journey. It is full of comedic drama that end up involving the trekkers and even the in-keepers of the shelters along the famous Stevenson Trail in the gorgeous mountains of the Cévennes National Park, and of course the star, Patrick, the Irish donkey. Typical of the absurdist themes of French comedy.

Antoinette, our heroine, is infatuated with her married lover so much that she not only doesn't mind having his kid in her class, but she also crashes the family holiday all while finding an unlikely companion, Patrick, who ends up understanding her and helping her in a self-discovery journey. I lost it when Patrick finally meets Vladimir, the adulterous villain lover, and brays his head off in disgust. After all, Antoinette already had told Patrick everything about him. Also, when the wife comes unassumingly to confront her and Patrick fends off for Antoinette. She is as guilty of course but at least she finds redemption in the end.

It's a very French, very light comedy. It earned Laure Calamy the 2021 César Awards for best actress which is the French equivalent of the Oscars. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.