The Red Balloon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Red Balloon |
|
|---|---|
.png)
French theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Albert Lamorisse |
| Produced by | Albert Lamorisse |
| Screenplay by | Albert Lamorisse |
| Starring | Pascal Lamorisse |
| Music by | Maurice Le Roux |
| Cinematography | Edmond Séchan |
| Editing by | Pierre Gillette |
| Studio | Films Montsouris |
| Distributed by | Lopert Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 3 May 1956 (Cannes) 19 October 1956 (France) |
| Running time | 35 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
The Red Balloon (French: Le ballon rouge) is a 1956 French fantasy comedy-drama featurette written, produced, and directed by Albert Lamorisse. The thirty-five-minute short, which follows the adventures of a young boy who one day finds a sentient, mute, red balloon, was filmed in the Ménilmontant neighbourhood of Paris.
Lamorisse used his children as actors in the film. His son, Pascal, plays himself in the main role, and his daughter, Sabine, portrays a young girl.
The film won numerous awards, including an Oscar for Lamorisse for writing the Best Original Screenplay in 1956 and the Palme d'Or for short films at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. It also became popular with children and educators. It is the only short film to win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Contents
Plot
The film follows Pascal (Pascal Lamorisse), a young boy who, on his way to school one morning, discovers a large helium-filled red balloon. As he plays with it, he realizes it has a mind and will of its own. It begins to follow him wherever he goes, never straying far from him, and at times floating outside his bedroom window, as his mother will not allow it in their apartment.
The balloon follows Pascal through the streets of Paris, and they draw a lot of attention and envy from other children as they wander the streets. At one point the balloon enters his classroom, causing an uproar from his classmates. The noise alerts the principal, who locks Pascal up in his office. Later, after being set free, Pascal and the balloon encounter a young girl (Sabine Lamorisse) with a blue balloon that also seems to have a mind of its own, just like his.
One Sunday, the balloon is told to stay home while Pascal and his mother go to church. However, it follows them through the open window and into the church, and they are led out by a scolding beadle.
As Pascal and the balloon wander around the neighborhood, a gang of older boys, who are envious of the balloon, steal it while Pascal is inside a bakery; however, he manages to retrieve it. Following a chase through narrow alleyways, the boys finally catch up to them. They hold Pascal back as they bring it down with sling shots before one of the boys finishes it off by stomping on it.
The film ends as all the other balloons in Paris come to Pascal's aid and take him on a cluster balloon ride over the city.
Legacy
In 1960, Lamorisse released a second film, Stowaway in the Sky, which also starred Pascal and was a spiritual successor to The Red Balloon.
A stage adaptation by Anthony Clark was performed at the Royal National Theatre in 1996.
Don Hertzfeld's 1997 short film Billy's Balloon, which also showed at Cannes, is a parody of The Red Balloon.
The music video for "Son of Sam" by Elliott Smith, from his 2000 album Figure 8, is a direct homage to The Red Balloon.
Hou Hsiao-hsien's 2007 film Flight of the Red Balloon is a direct homage to the film.
A boy with a bright red balloon is featured in the epilogue of Damien Chazelle's 2016 musical film La La Land.
Pascal and Sabine restaurant in Asbury Park, New Jersey (USA) is named in honor of The Red Balloon.
Guitarist Keith Calmes' album Follow the Red Balloon is named as an homage to the spirit of Pascal and Sabine.
Merchandise
Book
A tie-in book was first published by Doubleday Books, (now Penguin Random House), in 1957, using black and white and color stills from the film, with added prose. It was highly acclaimed and went on to win 'A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year.' Albert Lamorisse was credited as its sole author.
Soundtrack
A soundtrack, featuring music adapted from the film by Lamorisse, was released on the Nonesuch Records label.
See also
In Spanish: Le Ballon rouge para niños
