Spoilers ahead...
Plot of EO: A donkey’s life journey
'EO'
tells the story of a donkey, EO, who embarks on a journey where he encounters a
variety of people, some kind and others cruel. The narrative is presented from
EO's perspective, and the absence of dialogue for EO is presumably intended to
enhance the film’s realism. However, this approach doesn’t fully succeed. There
are moments where EO expressing his thoughts, perhaps with a touch of sarcasm
or humor, would have been welcome.
Unbalanced Depiction of Animal Abuse
It’s
challenging to enjoy a film that doesn’t balance its portrayal of violence.
Watching the film felt akin to viewing a movie about the mistreatment of
slaves—here, EO meets only two kind individuals, while the rest are abusive or
indifferent. I had trouble watching the scene where he is badly beaten by a
group of men who believe he was the reason they lost a football match. I am not
saying these people don't exist; in fact, it shows the harsh reality of the
humans who actually do behave like this not just to a donkey but to other
animals too.
This
reminds me of 'A Dog’s Journey', which also explored the lives of animals
through interactions with different owners. That film struck a balance, showing
both the good and bad aspects of an animal’s life depending on the kind of
human company it had. Most importantly, it was fun and at times heartbreaking,
and we knew all the while what the dog was feeling with his voiceover.
Isabelle Huppert in a Completely Wasted Special Appearance
The film
could have been more engaging had there been at least one interesting human
character. Isabelle Huppert’s special appearance feels completely wasted and
irrelevant to the plot. However, the actor portraying her stepson brings some
much-needed humor.
The movie
briefly touches on themes of animal rights and class division. We witness a
circus being banned for exploiting animals, only for the freed animals to be
sent elsewhere for further exploitation by the wealthy. At a stable, EO
receives markedly different treatment compared to a well-cared-for horse.
What's
worth applauding here is the sound design and the visuals that get your
attention all the while. If only there was more depth to the storytelling, it
would have worked better. Even the final ending message I felt should have been
given right at the start... and well, the violent ending just summarizes the
whole movie.
Verdict on EO
Overall, 'EO' would work only if you are okay with watching the life of a donkey being totally miserable and full of pain, with good moments lasting for a very short while. I certainly wasn't.
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