Donkeys

Donkeys (2010), directed by Morag McKinnon, is a Scottish black comedy. The plot operates with only four main characters (Alfred, Brain, Jackie, Stevie), but their nature and character development are quite interesting and all of them would deserve attention, but the most significant improvement is the main protagonist’s, Alfred.

At the very beginning, Alfred seems to be a comical and independent figure. He is independent because he seems to have his own business (his street-market), flat and he seems to be pleased with his situation. On the other hand, he is a comical character because of how he reacts to different events. The scene when Alfred is informed about his diagnosis is a good example: he knows the diagnosis now, he should be sad, but he ran out off the room crying hysterically. 

Anyway, this scene is crucial in his development, too – because of his diagnosis (he is dying) Alfred makes the following decision: he tries to get closer to his lost family (Jackie and her daughter). Managing his plan, he is about to keep his independent and comical nature – perhaps he wants to be likeable in this way. However, he cannot rebuild his relationship with Jackie. Her attitude to her father is cold-blooded, she usually rejects him. This behaviour makes Alfred desperate, even though he does not show it. He continues to act in his comical way. However, later, he will not be able to manage it. 

In connection with Donkeys, David Cairns says the following: “Reality contains more than just misery, poverty and squalor. The miserable goes hand in hand with the beautiful and the absurd. It’s always impressive when a film manages to do justice to all three aspects of existence, as Donkeys does!” Concerning Alfred his comical character is the beauty and absurdity which goes hand in hand with misery. One great example is the scene when Alfred and Brain visited Alfred’s granddaughter and play childish games all the night. Alfred can enjoy the situation, though he knows about his forthcoming death. But the diagnosis scene mentioned above is a much better example: it is comical and absurd, yet bitter, too. 

In conclusion, Morag McKinnon makes possible character development in a visible way. Alfred’s description represented it well; moreover, the beautiful, miserable and absurd characteristic of the movie is also showed by the protagonist.