BFI Giving Jerzy Skolimowski’s Oscar Nominated EO Home Release

Veteran Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski‘s Oscar nominated  EO is set for a Blu-ray, DVD and BFI Player release next month.

The release of EO comes alongside the BFI release of two more Skolimowski features: Identification Marks: None (1965) and Hands Up! (1981) will be released together on a 2-disc Blu-ray on 24th April.

EO, a grey donkey with melancholic eyes and a curious spirit, begins his life as a circus performer before escaping on a trek across the Polish and Italian countryside. During his travels, he encounters an eclectic cast of characters, including a countess, a young Italian priest and a riotous Polish football team. An equine hero, EO boldly points out societal ills and serves as warning of the dangers of neglect and inaction, all while on a quest for freedom.

The film stars Sandra Drzymalska, Isabelle Huppert, Lorenzo Zurzolo and Mateusz Kościukiewicz.

EO, a grey donkey with melancholic eyes and a curious spirit, begins his life as a circus performer before escaping on a trek across the Polish and Italian countryside. During his travels, he encounters an eclectic cast of characters, including a countess (Isabelle Huppert), a young Italian priest (Lorenzo Zurzolo) and a riotous Polish football team. EO’s journey speaks to the world around us, an equine hero boldly pointing out societal ills, and serving as warning to the dangers of neglect and inaction, all while on a quest for freedom. Inspired by Robert Bresson’s 1966 film Au Hasard Balthazar, legendary filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski’s visually inventive film places the viewer directly in the heart and mind of the four-legged protagonist.

Special features
– Jerzy Skolimowski & Ewa Piaskowska on the making of EO (2022, 27 mins): director Jerzy Skolimowski and co-writer Ewa Piaskowska discuss the making of EO at the New York Film Festival
– Skolimowski A to Ż (2023, 53 mins): an alphabetical journey through the work of Jerzy Skolimowski with writer Michael Brooke
– High Rise Donkey (1980, 56 mins): in this Children’s Film Foundation adventure, three children who live in a tower block try to save a donkey from small-time crooks
– The Clown and His Donkey (1910, 4 mins): rare silhouette animation by Charles Armstrong depicting a clown doing tricks with his donkey Charles Armstrong depicting a clown doing tricks with his donkey
– UK trailer and assorted teasers
***First pressing only*** illustrated booklet with an essay by Ewa Mazierska, an interview with Jerzy Skolimowski & Ewa Piaskowska by David Thompson and a film review by Christina Newland for Sight and Sound; credits and notes on the special features

Poland, Italy / 2022 / colour / 88 mins / Polish and Italian, with optional English language subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.43:1 // BD50: 1080p, 24fps, 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, PCM 2.0 stereo audio DVD9: PAL, 25fps, 5.1 surround audio (48kHz/24-bit), Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/16-bit)

EO will be released on Blu-ray, DVD and on BFI Player from 3rd April. Pre-Order Your Copy Here.