Locarno Film Festival: "Princesa Burro," a cobbled-together tale that mostly makes you laugh

Chilean directors Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña's new film, "Princesa Burro" (Donkey Princess), is competing for the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival. The film is presented as a fantasy fable with a low budget, drawing comparisons to the works of Michel Gondry and Jacques Demy. However, upon viewing, the film has failed to live up to these lofty artistic comparisons.

The official festival daily, Pardo, noted the film's potential for poetic depth, citing its influences. The directors themselves have invoked the Lumière brothers for their "clinical observation of reality" and Méliès for magic. Despite these ambitious claims, the film's execution has left audiences and critics underwhelmed.

While the international co-production does possess a certain DIY aesthetic, reminiscent of early filmmaking experiments, its narrative and execution do not align with the promised artistic lineage. The film's fantastical elements and storytelling have been described as more comical than profound, failing to resonate with the critical acclaim suggested by its festival presence.