Le ballon rouge (1956)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Albert Lamorisse

Writer:

Albert Lamorisse (written by)

Release Date:

11 March 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy | Short

Plot:

A red balloon with a life of its own follows a little boy around the streets of Paris.

Plot Keywords:

Balloon | Red Balloon | Color In Title | Children | Very Little Dialogue

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins

Cast

Pascal Lamorisse	...	Pascal the Boy
Georges Sellier	...	Shopkeeper
Vladimir Popov	...	Tennant
Paul Perey
René Marion	...	Pascal's Father
Sabine Lamorisse	...	Pascal's Mother
Michel Pezin

Also Known As:

The Red Balloon (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

34 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | South Korea:All | Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Films Montsouris

Trivia:

This film had one of the largest non-theatrical runs in the history of American cinema. Thousands of 16-millimeter prints were distributed to schools across the country.

Goofs:

Continuity: Just after the scene where the boy is turned away from boarding the bus, you see him running off with the balloon in his left hand and the satchel in his right however in the next shot it is reversed.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Revenge of the Red Balloon (2000)

Mesmerizing!

I wonder, is there any other 30 minute short produced in the history of film that is more enchanting and moving than "Le Ballon rouge"?

The vivid colors and the wonderful use of Paris scenery is only part of the experience, another large part is the touching performance by the director's six year old son Pascal in the lead (how lucky he didn't fall and break his neck in that opening scene where he finds the balloon!). The look on his face in the final scene is every bit as heartbreaking as that of Jackie Coogan in Chaplin's legendary "The Kid". The whole movie is reminiscent of the best Chaplin had to offer, mixed with a little Jacques Tati and a touch of storybook fantasy. On the basis of only *one* *short* film Albert Lamorisse will forever see his name in gold print in the annals of movie history, which is quite an achievement!

It will tear your heart with joy, fascination, sorrow and spellbind you with jubilation in just 30 minutes! A true classic, well deserving of it's screenplay Oscar, only a demon could be cold enough in his heart to dislike it!

Now pleeeaaase; release it on DVD!