The first of this month’s two Volunteer of the Month programming picks comes to us from Alexis, who has selected director Jacques Demy’s whimsical 1970 classic Donkey Skin (French title: Peau d’âne).

Winner of the Best Children’s Film prize at Spain’s Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Donkey Skin is a lovingly crafted, wildly eccentric musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale by Charles Perrault. The film stars Catherine Deneuve as a princess whose father, the King (Jean Marais), wishes to marry her following the death of his wife. To escape this disturbing situation, the princess seeks the help of her fairy godmother (Delphine Seyrig), who advises her to demand impossible gifts from the King to delay the marriage. Ultimately, she is given the skin of a magical donkey that produces gold, which she uses as a disguise to flee to a neighboring kingdom, where she eventually catches the eye of a charming prince (Jacques Perrin).

Donkey Skin received critical acclaim for its enchanting and imaginative storytelling, stunning visual style, and sophisticated exploration of themes such as love, identity, and transformation. Demy’s direction, combined with the film’s lush costumes, vibrant sets, and memorable musical numbers by three-time Academy Award-winning French composer Michel Legrand, creates a dreamlike atmosphere that continues to captivate audiences over 50 years after its release.