It’s no secret that the world is a strange, unique and mysterious place, but what would it look like from the perspective of another? Perhaps, the viewpoint and eyes of an animal? Introducing Eo, an adorable donkey with grey fur and sweet eyes. Eo is part of an on-road circus group, but the animals (including Eo) are taken away when the group is deemed bankrupt. Staff member Kasandra (Sandra Drzymalska) has a heavy and sad heart letting him go, but soon Eo is forced to be owned by another. Through Eo’s eyes, viewers go on a journey unlike anything they’ve seen before. We meet various people, some of whom are kind-hearted and some who are sadly cruel and destructive. The life of Eo is filled with many ups and downs, and some events occur out of sheer luck.
Polish filmmaker and Director Jerzy Skolimowski states that this film serves best as a road trip. It is unknown whom Eo will encounter next or where he will head. Eo is best described as a heavy drama, and naturally, the plot and story are a pretty strange and unique concept that I’ve yet to experience in cinema before. As Eo meets various people, some of whom are loving and kind and others have a mindset of brutality and harshness, we are creatively asked a challenging question: Have we ever considered what an animal feels emotionally in both good and bad situations? I will warn viewers who struggle to watch any form of animal cruelty that there are tense scenes, and viewers should be mindful and aware when going into this film.
When it comes to filmmaking, there is a lot to admire and appreciate here. Many moments are stunning to the eye, and the skill and craft on display is impressive. As a result, audiences will feel various emotions, including compassion towards a lonely Donkey. The film’s instrumental score is extraordinary and gripping. Simple moments are made powerful, such as Eo refusing to eat a carrot. We hear him breathe deeply, and the sound stage makes this scene become much more.
Overall, Eo reminds audiences that the world can be a wonderous, frighting and hurtful mix. Here, we have a very different and highly unique concept that I admired and appreciated right from the start. The Director’s work is excellent, and moments of tension and drama are creatively filmed with intelligent lighting. Ultimately, it is impossible not to feel compassion for the film’s lead, a cute adorable donkey. I must admit that not everything on-screen is easy to watch. Still, there’s a new road trip experience here for cinema lovers to discover.
7.3/10
14th March 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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