AFI FEST 2020: My Donkey, My Lover & I
AFI Fest 2020Though not for everyone, some will see Caroline Vignal's My Donkey, My Lover & I as the perfect film for the current times. Following a school teacher named Antoinette (Laure Calamy) who hopelessly follows her secret lover Vladimir (Benjamin Lavernhe) as he goes on a surprise vacation with his wife, My Donkey, My Lover & I might be morally questionable at times and overdramatic but is also an incredibly charming and fun film that is perfect for night in.
So much of this genuine enjoyment comes from the lead performance from Laure Calamy. Naturally, Antoinette is a complex character for the audience to relate to and come to accept as a protagonist. Whilst the love the character feels and the almost embarrassing amount of action she is willing to take for it feels genuine and charming, the character also is actively engaging in an affair going out of her way to disrupt the love that Vladimir already feels for his wife. For a film that ultimately takes the identity of a fun romantic comedy, this is a surprisingly complicated and dark moral dilemma that both the audience and character of Antoinette has to wrestle with and accept in their own ways. Yet the reason the film can handle this size of a moral conundrum is Laure Calamy. The innocence that Calamy gives her character while preserving the weight of her actions as she has to explain herself to various individuals on her journey is a testament to the legitimate effort both Calamy as an actor and Caroline Vignal as a screenwriter give to the project. Whilst this depth to the film might not become the true identity that the film is defined by, it is an important piece of the puzzle, taking this plot and making it work.
Ultimately, My Donkey, My Lover & I instead takes on the identity of a lighthearted romantic comedy sharing more in common with Mamma Mia than most other projects in the current film festival circuit. The film thrives in its enticing French setting with the emotional drama being set in a world filled with wine and love around every corner. The film ends up prioritizing mood and fun over depth and completion, which leads to a viewing experience that, though ultimately basic, is still enjoyable and worthwhile for fans of the genre. Whilst the film is more grounded in tone and style, not having any larger than life musical numbers set on a lush Greek bay, its approach to drama and emotion is similar and the audiences who gain the most from each film will look very similar.
My Donkey, My Lover & I is far from revolutionary but is also perfectly suitable as an antidote for the stress and frustration of the modern world. The drama and emotion is over the top but also has a complex backbone that holds the entire project together with the lead performance from Laure Calamy sitting as a cherry on top. For those who look at this movie and naturally assume they will enjoy it, the film is going to deliver exactly what it is promising, but for those who don't get the same rewarding experience from the genre already, My Donkey, My Lover & I is probably best to skip.
