28.4.23
EO is full of heartwarming exchanges and visually striking moments, but it doesn’t add up to much beyond a quirky, novelty tale.
Our hero of the story, EO the donkey, experiences the ups and downs of life encountering human cruelty and kindness along the way. Cinematographer Michal Dymek captures some beautifully framed shots, often focusing on EO’s soulful eyes. There are dreamlike sequences and surreal festive Christian imagery that create memorable scenes, however, the minimal dialogue and stark symbolism make the film feel a bit pretentious at times.
Animal lovers may connect to seeing life from the perspective of an innocent creature, without the capacity for prejudice. For me though, this doesn’t compete at all with some of the better international features at the Oscars earlier in 2023, as I think Colm Bairéad’s The Quiet Girl was the best film there by a mile, and other standout films such as Decision to Leave and Return to Seoul were not even on the final nominations list.
In the end, EO is a moderately enjoyable arthouse film carried by strong cinematography and a charming, unorthodox lead. But, the simplistic storytelling needed to be more compelling to maintain my interest throughout. EO tries to say something meaningful about animal rights and human nature, but only partially succeeds. Still, there’s enough charm and imagination here for this tale to appeal to the right crowd. Maybe it will find some joy with audiences in the Christmas season…Little Donkey anyone?