La Piel De Zappa

Asses' Skin, a story by Honore de Balzac, was the basis of the Argentine film La Piel de Zapa. The story concerns a suicide-prone gentleman who happens upon an enchanted asses' skin at a curiosity shop. The skin will grant him his every wish, but there's a catch: each time a wish is granted, the skin's owner's life grows shorter. Our hero finds that he'd like to prolong his life upon falling in love, but it may be a shade too late. Though filmed in its entirety in Argentina, La Piel de Zapa has an appropriate French ambience, thanks in no small part to the presence of Gallic leading lady Florence Marly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide