Au hasard Balthazar

In the idyllic French countryside, two adventurous children, Jacques and his sisters, adopt a young donkey they name Balthazar. This heartwarming moment marks the beginning of a deep bond between the children and Balthazar, which grows with the inclusion of Marie, Jacques's childhood love.

Tragedy strikes when one of Jacques's sisters unexpectedly passes away. This event forces their family to leave the farm, leading to Marie's family informally taking over the property, which alters the destinies of both families and Balthazar.

As the years go by, Balthazar falls into the hands of local farm workers who put him to hard labor. The once beloved donkey faces relentless toil, a stark contrast to the love he once knew from Jacques and his sisters.

After a tumultuous period, a mishap allows Balthazar to flee back to Marie, who has grown into a young woman. However, their reunion is marred by familial discord, as Marie's father engages in legal battles with Jacques's family over the farm.

Due to the escalating tensions between their families, Balthazar is given away to a local bakery for deliveries. At the bakery, Balthazar encounters Gérard, who is filled with jealousy as he sees Marie's affection for the donkey.

One day, while driving in her 2CV, Marie spots Balthazar and stops to reconnect. However, Gérard insists on joining her, leading to a disturbing implication of a sexual assault that entangles Marie in a toxic relationship.

In a twist of fate, Gérard finds himself questioned by the police alongside Arnold, a local alcoholic linked to a murder case. Despite the gravity of the situation, neither Gérard nor Arnold is apprehended, allowing their nefarious activities to continue.

As Balthazar's health deteriorates, Arnold intervenes and takes the donkey under his care, preventing euthanasia. With Arnold's assistance, Balthazar recovers and begins guiding tourists through the scenic Pyrenees, albeit with a restless spirit.

In search of freedom, Balthazar escapes and joins a circus, where he unexpectedly encounters Arnold in the audience. Driven by instinctual loyalty, Balthazar creates chaos which leads Arnold to reclaim him, ultimately deepening their bond.

After inheriting a fortune from his late uncle, Arnold celebrates with a party. Meanwhile, Marie and her mother have a heartfelt conversation, yet Marie refuses to return home, still haunted by her tumultuous past.

Tragedy strikes when Gérard, in a drunken state, forces Arnold to ride Balthazar, resulting in a fatal accident. This incident marks a devastating turn in the lives of both Marie and Balthazar, compounding their suffering.

Following the accident, Balthazar is sent to the market and purchased by a greedy local miller who mistreats him for hard labor. One stormy night, Marie, desperate for safety from Gérard, seeks refuge at the miller's home.

The miller's offer to help turns out to be manipulative when he presents Balthazar to Marie's parents, suggesting a return to her troubled past. Caught between Jacques, who wishes to marry her, and her traumatic relationship with Gérard, Marie faces a heart-wrenching decision.

Determined to confront her past, Marie visits a barn filled with bittersweet memories, only to fall into a trap laid by Gérard and his gang. A brutal assault ensues, but with Balthazar's help, she is ultimately rescued by her father and Jacques.

In a cruel twist of fate, Gérard steals Balthazar under the cover of night for smuggling activities. After a violent confrontation with customs guards, Balthazar meets a tragic end, lying down amidst a gathering of sheep, marking the heartbreaking conclusion of his journey.