Donkey Skin

Peau d'Âne

Overview

Misfortune strikes a kingdom: the queen is dying. She makes her husband swear that he remarry after her death, but on one condition, that he only marry a woman more beautiful than her. Seeing the picture of his daughter appear, whom he doesn't recognize at first, the king finds in her a woman more beautiful than the queen and he wishes to marry her, and continues to wish it even after she is recognized as his child. Advised by her fairy godmother, the little girl imposes impossible conditions in hopes of cancelling the wedding. But the king accomplishes the impossible. The girl then asks of him the skin of his donkey, the one that makes the kingdom's riches by defecating gold. Without hesitating the king fulfills the request of his daughter, who then flees him, dressed in the horrible garment to repel all desires.