DO DONKEYS ACT? subtly subverts the notion of the “dumb beast” as it captures donkeys communicating emotionally with each other in the midst of healing from human cruelty. A poetic text threads through scenes “acted” by donkeys, a rhythmic script commentary voiced by Willem Dafoe. The film’s ethno-poetic-animal-fiction takes its playfully self-reflexive cues from Jean Rouch and Chris Marker. Reclaiming the donkey from the indignity of a centuries old master slave relationship, it elevates a degraded beast to the role of lead actor and performance artist.

To paraphrase Marina Abramovic: the donkey is present.

Unknown Pleasures