My Donkey, My Lover and I (Antoinette dans les Cévennes)

This screening took place on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 6:00 pmYukon Arts Centre

The "I" in this smart and funny film is Antoinette (Laure Calamy), an elementary school teacher, passionately involved with the (married) father of one of her students… When her lover cancels their plans for a romantic tryst to vacation with his wife on a multi-day hike in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson’s pioneering memoir “Travels With a Donkey” in the Cevennes, Antoinette makes a rash decision: she will make her own way to the mountains and surprise him on the trail. What could possibly go wrong?

This scenic comedy gets a big lift from Laure Calamy’s willingness to throw herself into pratfalls, humiliation and endless setbacks while retaining an optimistic outlook, not to mention her testy comic rapport with her willful traveling companion, Patrick the donkey. He may be the epitome of a pain in the ass, but Patrick also has valuable learnings to impart on independence, loyalty, when to stay put and when to move on. An official selection for Cannes 2020, Caroline Vignal’s delightful movie is a breath of fresh air, blending life lessons, romance, insight and scenery. - VIFF

In French with English Subtitles

ANTOINETTE DANS LES CÉVENNES

Des mois qu’Antoinette attend l’été et la promesse d’une semaine en amoureux avec son amant, Vladimir. Mais, au dernier moment, il annule : sa femme a réservé une randonnée en famille dans les Cévennes avec un âne ! Abandonnée, Antoinette décide sur un coup de tête de partir, elle aussi, sur le chemin de Stevenson. À son arrivée, pas de Vladimir, mais un certain Patrick – un âne (personne n'est parfait !) récalcitrant –, qui va l'accompagner dans son singulier périple...