Where to start
Au Hasard Balthazar
2 versions · originally a film, 1966
These films utilize the perspective of a donkey to reflect the profound cruelty and grace of the human condition.
✦ Most fans start here
Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)

The original movie
✦ Start hereAu Hasard Balthazar
Robert Bresson · Film · 1966
Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) is the definitive masterpiece of ascetic cinema, offering a haunting, transcendental portrait of suffering that remains the essential foundation for all subsequent cinematic animal allegories.

Inspired by
EO
Jerzy Skolimowski · Film · 2022
EO (2022) offers a vibrant, modern reimagining that utilizes experimental cinematography to project a donkey's subjective experience, serving as a visceral, sensory-focused companion piece to the original's austere, spiritual narrative style.
Common questions
Is EO a remake of Au Hasard Balthazar?
The 2022 film EO is inspired by the 1966 classic Au Hasard Balthazar. Both films follow the life journey of a donkey, using the animal as a witness to human behavior and the world around it, though they are distinct cinematic works.
Should I watch Au Hasard Balthazar before watching EO?
Watching Au Hasard Balthazar first is not required to understand the plot of EO, as they are independent films. However, viewing the 1966 original provides important context for the thematic lineage and the specific directorial approach to storytelling centered on an animal protagonist.
What is the relationship between Au Hasard Balthazar and EO?
The film EO serves as a modern homage to the 1966 masterpiece Au Hasard Balthazar. Both movies utilize the perspective of a donkey to explore themes of innocence and cruelty, serving as a reflection of the human condition through the eyes of an animal.
Is Au Hasard Balthazar connected to the story in EO?
There is no direct narrative connection between the two films. While EO draws thematic inspiration and structural influence from Au Hasard Balthazar, it features an entirely separate story and setting, functioning as its own unique cinematic experience rather than a sequel or direct continuation.