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Le Ballon rouge
1956 Fantasy / Comedy / Drama
Review
Le Ballon rouge is a rare gem of French cinema, a captivating short film which
relates a simple tale of childhood innocence and fantasies, unmarred by false sentimentality.
Although it is a short film, which manages to avoid using dialogue for the most part,
it has a surprisingly great deal to say about human nature, showing both the best and
worst of the human condition in a profoundly moving minimalist lucidity. Most
of all, it is probably one of the most successful films to capture the essence of childhood,
or rather to present a child’s view of the world that is both convincing and engaging.
It is also a film which is hilariously funny in places, as the balloon, apparently with a mind of its own, trails the young boy through the beautiful streets of Montmartre in Paris. However, it is the tragic demise of the balloon near the end of the film which is most memorable, having a near religious, almost Bresson-esqe, character about it. When the film made its debut in 1954, it won the prestigious Palme d’Or in the short film category at Cannes. It subsequently won an Oscar for the best original screenplay. The film has since enjoyed an enduring popularity the world over. Its director, Albert Lamorisse, has transposed the story into a children’s book and then a popular stage play. © James Travers 2001 Write a review for this film...User Comments
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Director:
Albert Lamorisse
Starring: Pascal Lamorisse, Georges Sellier, Vladimir Popov, Paul Perey, René Marion Synopsis
A lonely young boy discovers a solitary bright red balloon and the two form an instant
bond of friendship. Wherever the boy goes, the balloon is not far behind.
When the boy gets into trouble at school, the balloon comes to his rescue. The boy’s
new found happiness appears to be short lived when a gang of other boys are attracted
to the balloon, their intentions being are far from friendly...
Credits
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