Man...! (SPOILERS, I GUESS.)
Man, was I angry at Celestino when he offed that donkey. That was just wrong, and the camera should've known better. Being stubborn ain't evil.
I love donkeys.
Matthew
Exactly right, Matthew. That bothered me also, and reminded me of Bresson's deplorable Au Hasard Balthazar. At least, hopefully, Rossellini didn't actually kill the donkey, but still it made me "check out" of the film, and pretty much dislike all the characters.
The entire film was a "fail" for me.
To a new world of gods and monsters!
jimmy,
I really doubt any donkey was actually killed for this movie -- since the death occurred off-screen, there'd hardly be any need for it!
I liked the film a lot, but, man, I was mad at Celestino for that. I kinda didn't want a happy ending, tho, I must admit. I didn't want the bad people to come back. But it was so unfair to kill an innocent donkey that I had to be okay with the ending, as it brought her/him back, too.
Matthew