ABOUT A DONKEY: A Modest But Moving Film
We all have our own family eccentricities, these little details that are completely ours. There is also an inevitable moment in everyone’s life where you’re not sure what you’re supposed to do next. We all try out best, and sometimes, at a random turning point in our existence, we may do something unexpected that our loved ones don’t quite understand, and that may involve purchasing a farm animal.
In About a Donkey, Christina Raia‘s second feature, it isn’t really about the donkey, but more of what it shakes loose within the lives of the Owens family.
After seeing Raia’s short film Enough at last year’s Bluestocking Film Festival, I was really excited to see this feature. When it was over, I was only further certain that we have an intuitive and clever female director in our midst.
Everybody Has Baggage
When the father Tim (Peter Jensen) decides to purchase said animal, a strange, out of place acquisition, his wife and children are stunned. His wife Ann (Katherine Wessling) and children Cecilia (Christina Shea-Wright), Annie (Alexandra Clayton) and Burgh (Ben Kaufman) all have their own problems, and as the story unfolds, we learn more about their individual lives.
Annie is close to having her child with husband Paul (Ricardo Manigat), and Cecilia is staying in their home until she gets on her feet. She often visits her grandmother, someone she connects to deeply, and there she meets Jordan (Elisha Mudly). Her grandmother Farrah (Ellen Graff) pushes her to take a chance, and the two begin a sweet romance.
Burgh is hiding his new relationship from his family because his girlfriend Cassie (Sarah Haruko) has a sordid history with his sister Annie. Ann is suffering from depression and finds herself jealous of the attention that Tim is giving to the donkey. As with any family, each person has their share of neurosis and drama, and About a Donkey gives us theirs with a confident hand. When the donkey, TG, goes missing, the family comes together to find it. The donkey is really a catalyst, creating a bridge of dialogue and better understanding between the members.
There’s An Ease To This Indie
The back and forth between the family feels lived-in and natural. There’s a comical element within the screenplay by Kelsey Rauber that arises subtly, making the jokes a welcome addition. Even when the family members aren’t seeing eye to eye they eventually find ways to laugh, and to appreciate one another. The story is a simple one, but it doesn’t make it any less impactful.
All of the cast does a terrific job and are fully believable in their particular roles. With difficulties like depression, looking for work and love, as well as the things we keep and we share with our family, the Owen’s aren’t exactly a new take on the familial ties that bind, but that’s what makes them inviting. There are aspects of them that we can see within ourselves, and this delightful indie might make you consider how it relates within our own lives.
At only an hour and 17 minutes, the movie is pretty slim, and while I would have liked to have seen more, it works as just a snapshot of these characters’ lives, from the entrance of the donkey until the end. About a Donkey embraces its identity, and allows its viewers to grasp this, but also infuses their own personal experiences within these characters’ journeys.
As I stated before, Raia is definitely a director to look out for. There is a confidence within About A Donkey that makes it clear she knows how to create a compelling piece of art. With a lot of valuable insight and plenty of laughs, it’s an easy recommendation to make.
Conclusion: About A Donkey
The film is about family and the individual struggles we each deal with. Through performances that are committed, especially the daughters, there’s a poignant tether that makes it a joy to start and heartwarming to finish. The movie provides a lens to our own vulnerabilities and capitalizes on the notion that happiness in any capacity should be sought. Even if that means getting a donkey.
What did you think? Any favorite movie-families? Let us know in the comments below!
About A Donkey will be available to stream on May 7th. You can bookmark the link early here.
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