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Peau d'Âne

Peau d'Âne

Movie · 1970 · 6 people

Jacques Demy wrote and directed Peau d'Âne (Donkey Skin), a French fantasy musical released on 20 December 1970. Adapted from Charles Perrault's fairy tale about a king who wants to marry his own daughter after his wife's death, it keeps the tale's course but gives it a 1960s pop look new to French cinema. It sold about 2.2 million tickets, making it Demy's biggest hit in France, and is regarded there as a cult film.

When the queen dies, the king swears to marry only someone as beautiful as she was, and the one person who qualifies is his daughter. Her godmother, a fairy, advises her to demand near-impossible wedding gifts; she finally asks for the skin of the king's magic donkey and flees the kingdom wrapped in it. Disguised, she meets hostility, guards her secret and crosses paths with a neighbouring prince. Catherine Deneuve plays the princess, Jean Marais the king, Delphine Seyrig the fairy and Jacques Perrin the prince.

This was the third collaboration between Demy and Deneuve, with music by Michel Legrand. The film runs 86 minutes. Agnès Varda, Demy's wife, supervised its 2003 and 2014 restorations, and it reached the stage at the Théâtre Marigny in 2018.

DirectorJacques Demy

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Cast

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Catherine Deneuve Catherine Deneuve Film actor · 83 years old Jean Marais Jean Marais Actor · died at 84 Delphine Seyrig Delphine Seyrig Actor · died at 58 Coluche Coluche Film actor · died at 41 Henri Crémieux Henri Crémieux Actor · died at 83 Pierre Repp Pierre Repp Actor · died at 76

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Through different eyes

Yeşilçam Nostalgic A viewer raised on the classics, looking for warm storytelling and strong acting.

For anyone longing for a film with the flavour of a fairy tale, Donkey Skin is a sweet journey, like turning the pages of an old storybook. In Jacques Demy's hands, Charles Perrault's tale becomes a colourful world full of song. Catherine Deneuve's princess is graceful, while Jean Marais lends the king a classic dignity. Michel Legrand's music is the film's heart. Still, the tale itself has an unsettling core, a father wishing to marry his daughter; the film tells it with a fairy-tale lightness, but the shadow never fully fades.

Cinephile Looks at script, editing and directing choices; keeps a distance from formula films.

Demy's Perrault adaptation stands out for staying faithful to the tale's familiar course while dressing it in a 1960s pop look; the bold mix creates a mood rarely seen in French cinema until then. The third collaboration between Demy and Deneuve, it builds a coherent emotional whole as a musical, carried by Michel Legrand's score. The 86-minute running time keeps the narrative tight. Some will find the pop styling enchanting, others overly ornate, but it is a deliberate stylistic decision. Selling about 2.2 million tickets to become Demy's biggest box-office success in France, and the restorations of 2003 and 2014, show how well the film has lasted.

Family Viewer Asks whether the whole household can watch it; cares about humour and heart.

A colourful fairy-tale film with songs, a princess, a fairy and castles. Children may love the visuals and the music. But a word of warning: in the story, the king wants to marry his own daughter. Even told in fairy-tale language, young children may ask about it, so it is good to have a grown-up beside them. Older children and grandparents can enjoy it together, and it is short, too.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

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