Donkey Skin (Peau d’ane)
Directed by Jacques Demy
Written by Jacques Demy from a fairy tale by Charles Perreault
1970/France
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
Le roi bleu: Have fairy-tale princesses all disappeared?
The perfect trip during Lockdown. Visit a land where the sun always shines and true love triumphs in magical jewel-like colors.
Once upon a time and far far away, The Blue King (Jean Marais) was at the death bed of his beloved wife the Blue Queen. The queen made the Blue King promise to re-marry when he had found a woman at least as beautiful as herself. The queen died and the king searched far and wide for a bride. Alas, the only woman as beautiful as his late wife is their daughter the Blue Princess (Catherine Deneuve). The Princess is alarmed by this proposal but is rescued by a visit from her Fairy Godmother (Delphine Seyrig). After advising her charge to demand any number of impossible things from the King the final challenge is to request the skin of his magic donkey (which defecates gold and jewels.) The King complies and the Fairy Godmother transports the Princess to a faraway kingdom disguised in the donkey skin. She loans the Princess her fairy wand.
The kingdom contains a very eligible Prince named Charming. We are now on the way to the various adventures leading up to a happily ever after.
Well, this is just delightful. There are several references to Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast (1946) but the tone is quite different. There are a few songs but I wouldn’t call it a musical per se. The main thing is the fabulous sets and costumes and the perfectly cast actors. Recommended.
