Julien Donkey-Boy (1999)

Writers:

Release Date:

13 September 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A portrait of the effects of schizophrenia on family life is the central focus.

Plot Keywords:

Schizophrenia | Doctor | Love | Blind Man | Store

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Ewen Bremner	...	Julien
Brian Fisk	...	Pond Boy
Chloë Sevigny	...	Pearl (as Chloe Sevigny)
Werner Herzog	...	Father
Joyce Korine	...	Grandma
Evan Neumann	...	Chris
Miriam Martínez	...	Teenage Girl (as Miriam Martinez)
Edgar Erikkson	...	Bearded Man
James Moix	...	Dancing Man
Victor Varnado	...	Rapper
Oliver A. Bueno	...	Bowler
Roger Harris	...	Bowler
Josseph Padilla	...	Bowler
Olivia Pérez	...	Bowler (as Olivia Perez)
Freddie Perez	...	Bowler

Also Known As:

Dogme # 6 - Julien Donkey-Boy (USA) (series title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality and disturbing images.

Runtime:

94 min | 101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:14A | France:U | UK:15 | USA:R | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Yonkers, New York, USA

Company:

391 Productions

Trivia:

The decision to make the film under the Dogme '95 conventions was made less than one month before shooting.

Quotes:

Julien: Cursed be he who puts an obstacle in the path of a blind man.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in From Dogma to Dogville: Don't Try This at Home (2006)

Soundtrack:

Shop in Store

It inspires more discord than harmony (sorry about that)

This is one of those divisive films. I don't consider myself an expert on the Dogma school of film-making, or avant garde technique in general, but I must say I found this more watchable, cohesive and engaging that Korine's `Gummo.' Some people will invariably find a film `pretentious' if it challenges their expectations in any way, and I'm surprised that the P-word hasn't occurred more in the comments on this page.

Regarding the look of this film, I think an earlier commentator's analogy to Van Gogh is interesting. Unconventional techniques and points-of-view in art always inspire animosity, and the work of the Dutch painter Van Gogh was severely criticized in his time (incompetent, grotesque, vulgar, etc.). How many people find his work inscrutable today?

When German director Werner Herzog, in the role of Julien's father, contemptuously disparages an `artsy-fartsy' poem, and goes on to describe a scene from a `Dirty Harry' film in glowing terms, you've got to wonder what is being said. The apparent reaction of some commentators here seems to be that they, the viewers suckered into watching this film, are the butt of some joke, but I'm not so sure. The line may well have been unscripted improv, and Herzog makes the `artsy-fartsy' remark in the character of a particularly abusive, overbearing, and aggressively unsympathetic person. It is a bit reminiscent of a remark he makes in the commentary to his own film `Heart of Glass,' but in that case he is disparaging `new age crap.' I can't help wondering -- does he consider himself an artsy-fartsy director? Would he consider that an insult? I can't be sure if he actually identified with the character he portrayed. So is this remark a joke on the nature of `Julien Donkey Boy,' or just meant to be typical of the abusive ass portrayed by Herzog? My first impression was the latter, and I still favor it. In any event, I enjoyed hearing the voice so familiar to me from those commentary tracks delivering the same sort of strange anecdotes and strong opinions in this film, even in the guise of this repulsive character. Inspired casting, but then, Korine seems to admire Herzog as much as I do.

Even amongst art-house goons, this film is divisive. What can I say? I liked it, found the look and technique visually stimulating and sometimes quite beautiful, the characterizations interesting, and the whole thing cohesive. For me it has a `stick to the ribs' quality that keeps me thinking about it long after having seen it. I'll gladly watch another Harmony Korine film, when it appears.