Le ballon rouge (1956)

Note des utilisateurs:

8.1/10   

Réalisateur:

Albert Lamorisse

Scénariste:

Albert Lamorisse (written by)

Release Date:

11 mars 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:

Boy | Balloon | Red Balloon | Chase | Paris France

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins

Avis des utilisateurs:

Mesmerizing!

Ensemble

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

Autre(s) titre(s):

The Red Balloon (USA) (new title)

Durée:

34 min

Pays:

France

Langue:

Français

Couleur:

Couleur (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Son:

Mono

Classification:

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

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

Paris, France

Company:

Films Montsouris

Anecdotes:

The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, even though it has little dialogue.

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:

Referenced in Le divorce (2003)

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!