Antoinette dans les Cévennes

The fearless and fantastic Laure Calamy stars in Caroline Vignal’s absolute treat of a romantic comedy, whose wacky English title—My Donkey, My Lover & I—perhaps better captures the film’s whimsical, hilarious, and yet heartfelt tone. Elementary-school teacher Antoinette (Calamy) sees her vacation plans go up in smoke when her married lover Vladimir (Benjamin Lavernhe) opts to vacation with his wife and child by hiking in the gorgeous mountains of the Cévennes region. Taking the bull by the horns—or, in this case, the donkey by the ears—she decides to surprise him on the trail (perhaps not the best of ideas…). Alongside not-so-faithful donkey Patrick, this newbie takes to the trail—and hilarity ensues…

‘It’s an initiatory journey set to the tune of a romantic comedy and against vast, magnificent landscapes, but it’s also a hilarious "buddy movie" which unites a woman and a donkey, paints a moving portrait and magnifies the virtues of stripping back to the essentials and getting back to nature (without concealing the complications such a process involves)… Carried by the sensational Laure Calamy, who is wonderful in her delivery of a comic-cum-pathetic performance whilst also offering up a moving display of bravery in adversity, the film paints a very beautiful portrait…’—Fabian Lemercier, Cineuropa