Julien Donkey-Boy (1999)

Writers:

(more)

Release Date:

13 September 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A portrait of the effects of schizophrenia on family life is the central focus.

Plot Keywords:

Schizophrenia | Schizophrenic | Dead Baby | Christian | Wrestling

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Ewen Bremner	...	Julien
Brian Fisk	...	Pond Boy
Chloë Sevigny	...	Pearl (as Chloe Sevigny)
Werner Herzog	...	Father
Joyce Korine	...	Grandma
Evan Neumann	...	Chris
Miriam Martínez	...	Teenage Girl (as Miriam Martinez)
Edgar Erikkson	...	Bearded Man
James Moix	...	Dancing Man
Victor Varnado	...	Rapper
Oliver A. Bueno	...	Bowler
Roger Harris	...	Bowler
Josseph Padilla	...	Bowler
Olivia Pérez	...	Bowler (as Olivia Perez)
Freddie Perez	...	Bowler
Carmelo Rodriguez	...	Bowler
Chrissy Kobylak	...	Chrissy
Carmel Gayle	...	Clothing Store Cashier
Herman Reimmer	...	Man in Clothing Store
Virginia Reath	...	Gynecologist
Mary O'Hara	...	Nun
Alvin Law	...	Card-Playing Neighbor
Donna Smith	...	Dancing Woman
Gary Bergman	...	Piano Player
Tom Mullica	...	Magician
Johnie Mae Allen	...	Partygoer (as Johnny Mae Allen)
Timothy Allen	...	Partygoer
George Ashiotis	...	Partygoer
Benjamin Butler	...	Partygoer
Joneiry Delarosa	...	Partygoer
Eternal Divine	...	Partygoer
Edery Herrera	...	Partygoer
Ruby Rodriguez	...	Partygoer
Xenophon A. Theophall	...	Partygoer
Archie MacGregor	...	Amnesiac Patient
Jeanmarie Evans	...	Amnesiac Patient
Ricky Ashley	...	Hasidic Boy
Courtney DeBlis	...	Skater
Marybeth Grunstra	...	Skater
Heidi Vanderhoof	...	Skater
Hy Richards	...	Doctor
Barry Wernick	...	Doctor
Clinton Wright	...	Doctor
Carmela García	...	Nurse
Punky	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Will Oldham	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Harmony Korine		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Harmony Korine		uncredited

Produced by
Jim Czarnecki	....	line producer
Scott Macaulay	....	producer
Robin O'Hara	....	producer
Cary Woods	....	producer

Cinematography by
Anthony Dod Mantle

Film Editing by
Valdís Óskarsdóttir		(as Valdis Oskarsdottir)

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Lori Eastside
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Management
Carrie Fix	....	production manager
Jill Goldstein	....	technical production manager

Art Department
Stephen Beatrice	....	set coordinator

Sound Department
Tom Efinger	....	sound conform
Tom Efinger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Miksis	....	sound
Michael Primmer	....	boom operator
Aaron J. Rudelson	....	boom operator

Stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Ward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Alejandro Castillo	....	additional camera operator
Henry Corra	....	additional camera operator
Michael Ginsburg	....	still photographer
Thomas LeGoff	....	still photographer
Lisa Leone	....	still photographer
John Perez	....	additional camera operator
Richard Rutkowski	....	additional camera operator
Mitchell Wagenberg	....	supplier: cameras

Casting Department
Mark Bennett	....	casting associate

Editorial Department
Jeffrey Levy-Hinte	....	post-production advisor
Paul Zucker	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tracy McKnight	....	music supervisor
David Pajo	....	musician (uncredited)

Other crew
Tevin Adelman	....	production assistant
Diane Bellino	....	assistant to director
Christine Brown	....	post-production office consultant
Jeff Brown	....	intern
Jeffrey A. Brown	....	intern
Kathy Ciric	....	location manager
Donna Daniels	....	publicist
Mark Deener	....	additional legal services
Jonas Drehn	....	on-line engineer
Jason Dungan	....	intern
Brian Enright	....	production assistant
Julie Farol	....	intern
Michelle Michael Graves	....	intern
Jason K. Grey	....	production assistant (as Jason Grey)
Elisa Haradon	....	intern (as Elisa Deutsch)
Michael Kuhn	....	key production assistant
Rosalind Lawton	....	legal consultant
Patrick Lindenmaier	....	tape-to-film supervisor (as Patrick Lindenmeyer)
Melissa Lintinger	....	production accountant
Paul Mantel	....	consultant
Andrea Martin	....	intern
Ross Miller	....	insurance
Frank Park	....	production assistant
Emily Pritchard	....	intern
May Redding	....	intern
John Reyburger	....	on-line engineer
Jason Rothenberg	....	production office coordinator
Steven Rubin	....	intern
Bear Schmidt	....	location coordinator (as Brian 'Bear' Schmidt)
Dan Seligman	....	production assistant
Howard Shapiro	....	additional legal services
Natasha C. Smith	....	intern
Michael Taylor	....	continuity
Thuy Tham	....	consultant
Neal Usatin	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• 391 Productions
• Forensic Films
• Independent Pictures (III)

Distributors

• Independent Pictures (III) (????) (USA) (theatrical)
• An Independent Pictures Release
• E.D. Distribution (France)
• Fine Line Features (USA)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina)
• Tohokushinsha Film

Other Companies

• Dig-It Audio  sound conforming
• Post 391  post-production services
• REI Media Group  titles and opticals
• Sound One Corporation  print master
• Swiss Effects  tape-to-film transfer
• Tape House  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

"Dogme # 6 - Julien Donkey-Boy" - USA (series title)
"Julien Donkey-Boy" - Argentina, Spain
"Julien Donkey-Boy" - France
"Julien Donkey-Boy" - Poland

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality and disturbing images

Runtime:

94 min | 101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:14A | France:U | UK:15 | USA:R | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Yonkers, New York, USA

Company:

391 Productions

Trivia:

In a number of scenes, including the one where Julien carries a dead fetus onto a public bus, Harmony Korine used hidden "spy cameras" in order to get genuine reactions from unsuspecting onlookers.

Quotes:

Julien:Cursed be he who puts an obstacle in the path of a blind man.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in From Dogma to Dogville: Don't Try This at Home (2006)

Soundtrack:

String Quartet in F Major, op. 96, 1st Movement (American)

Amazing film.

To represent the life of a schizophrenic through the medium of film, would be quite challenging, really. How could you possibly relate the total random madness and desperate attempts at self-control of a madman onto film? One would be wise to choose Dogme 95, as the life of these unfortunate people seems to be affected by and largely governed by, a series of rigid and obtuse beliefs, regimens or rituals put in place to form some sort of foundation in an otherwise random, "crazy" existence. They then hold fast to this foundation for dear life - white knuckles. Since these "rules" they live by come from insanity in the first place, and are not typically adaptable, or flexible, as life would require them to be, everything they attempt becomes convoluted and lost in madness and confusion. And so everything is completely unsettled, because they can't adapt. Dogme 95, with its odd, rigid requirements, vis-a-vis the "Vow of Chastity" (www.dogme95.dk) goes a long way toward capturing that dynamic.

This film comes pretty close to nailing the day-in, day-out obstacles that mentally ill people must encounter, making something as simple as a bus ride to work a harrowing adventure fraught with slopes. The whole thing reminds me of the LSD scene in "Easy Rider" with the call girls in the grave yard. That was as close as I have ever seen to a realistic depiction of an acid trip in a film (you'll have to trust me on this one folks...), and this film has the same feel of reality to it. Almost as if it were a film about a schizophrenic, directed by and acted by schizophrenics. It's amazing.

Bremner is brilliant. I didn't even recognize him until I read the credits, and afterward I believed that he should have been awarded for this outing - just completely convincing. Almost as if this were a documentary. He just acts so completely mentally ill, it's amazing. He even somehow affects not only the dress, but the postures, facial expressions and characteristics that make him appear to be genuinely mentally ill. Wow.

Herzog's character is just so completely weird and obtuse and out of place in our culture that he is perfect here. Makes you wonder about other people you see walking around.

Not hugely entertaining in terms of plot, but a real treat for someone who wants to be compelled by the film maker's art. Harmony Korine is way smarter than me and you, folks. And I think it's way cool he can get his hands on film equipment. He is pushing the envelope, which is a lot more than I can say for most directors. Safe is boring.

Regard this film in the context of the first scene when Julien has his encounter with the "Pond Boy" and a plot emerges. What we see within the first two or three minutes is just astoundingly disturbing, and will clearly have consequences on the rest of Julien's life - all of their lives. Relate the rest of the film back to the first scene, and it's really rather sad. Everything that ensues has that hanging over it. You know that no matter what those people do, some day there will be a knock on the door and everything will unravel. Or will it? How could they be any more odd and troubled than they already are?