About a Donkey

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2018

• Feature

• 77 min

Comedy, LGBTQ, Drama

Directed by Christina Raia

When Tim brings home a donkey in a mixture of wanting to rescue both it and himself, his life and the lives of his family (including three adult children and one matriarch) are shaken up and pushed forward.

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Buffalo International Film Festival, North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Austin Revolution Film Festival, Adirondack Film Festival, YoFiFest, The Yonkers Film Festival, Georgia Film Festival, Queens World Film Festival, Flathead Lake International Cinemafest, Capital City Film Festival, Cambria Film Festival

About the film

Extras

Director's Statement

The screenplay for About a Donkey was originally written after a visit with screenwriter Kelsey Rauber’s dad resulted in him casually mentioning that he would like to own a donkey. That passing comment sparked the quirky and heartfelt idea that led to the film. I was attracted to the screenplay due to how it effortlessly tackled weighty issues through a comedic lens filled with characters that feel real and show growth as the story progresses. As I got in involved, I became excited by the prospect of getting to enhance more of the dramatic subtext under the story and establish an inclusive world that surrounds this family. About a Donkey at its core is about compassion and growing towards acceptance. I hope this ensemble piece will bring audiences in and cause them to identify with characters who they may not otherwise. Our mission is to show that love is love, people's lives and desires are relevant no matter their age, and struggling with depression is acceptable and normal. And sometimes just taking an action, even one as random as buying a donkey, is exactly what's needed to get your life going again.

Reviews

"...this is a great filmmaking and great story telling. Director Christina Raia has made a wonderful film that is highly recommended. She has also put herself on my directors to watch list.” - Steve Kopian, Unseen Films

Unseen Films

So while Raia and Rauber have crafted a film to entertain on its own merits, About a Donkey also possesses the potential to open your eyes and recognize you can overcome whatever roadblocks are in your way too. Love, family, and even strange pets have the ability to make you whole if you’re willing to be vulnerable enough to let them.” - Jared Mobarak, The Film Stage

The Film Stage

"The film is about family and the individual struggles we each deal with. Through performances that are committed, especially the daughters, there’s a poignant tether that makes it a joy to start and heartwarming to finish. The movie provides a lens to our own vulnerabilities and capitalizes on the notion that happiness in any capacity should be sought. Even if that means getting a donkey."

Film Inquiry

"If you like indie movies and want to enjoy a sweet story with LGBTQ characters involved, then check out About a Donkey."

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