IMDb 7.4 2016 HD

Mr. Donkey

Mr. Donkey

2016
Comedy Drama
111 min NR China
7.387 / 10
7.4 IMDB

In order to pay for the donkey that brings them water, a countryside village registers it as a teacher at its local school. But when the charity group…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Liu Lu / Zhou Shen
Starring
Ren Suxi / Da Li / Liu Shuailiang / Bu Guanjin / Pei Kuishan / Han Yanbo / Alan Aruna / Gao Yang

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

heartwarming humorous quirky resourceful charming touching absurd earnest poignant delightful creative unique

Reviews

I
Isabelle Dubois
Apr 17, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A delightful and inventive film, Mr. Donkey, captivates with its ingenious narrative and strong character work. The story of a village employing a donkey as a teacher to secure educational funding is a testament to creative problem-solving under…

L
Liam O'Connell
Apr 17, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The premise of Mr. Donkey is its biggest selling point: a village needs a teacher and decides a donkey will suffice. This leads to a series of amusing predicaments as the community attempts to hide their unconventional educator…

S
Sophia Chen
Apr 17, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Mr. Donkey is a cinematic gem that manages to be uproariously funny while also delivering a powerful message about community and the pursuit of knowledge. The plot, involving a donkey masquerading as a school teacher, is brilliantly conceived…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 17, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This charming Chinese comedy, Mr. Donkey, presents a unique scenario where a village substitutes their donkey for a human teacher to secure funding. While the central conceit is undeniably quirky, the film's execution is largely successful. The ensemble…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 17, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Mr. Donkey offers a refreshingly original premise that is both hilarious and surprisingly touching. The film's strength lies in its earnest portrayal of a community striving for a better future, even if it means resorting to the absurd.…

FAQs

Mr. Donkey uses its fantastical premise to underscore the profound value placed on education, particularly in underserved communities. The villagers' extreme measures to secure a teacher, even a non-human one, highlight their deep yearning for knowledge and opportunity for their children. The film implicitly critiques systems that might overlook or underfund rural education, showing that the desire for learning can transcend conventional boundaries.