Le ballon rouge / The Red Balloon (1956)

Boy: "Ballon! You have to obey me and be good."

 By Albert Lamorisse
With Pascal Lamorisse, Georges Sellier, Vladimir Popov

A beautiful tale of a red balloon and the young boy who befriends it. The film is scarcely over half an hour in length, and during that entire time, I was drawn deeply into this sweet story. The little boy who is unnamed -- there is very little dialogue in this film -- finds a brilliantly red balloon tied to a lamp post on his way to school. Unlike the rest of his surroundings, the red balloon contrasts vibrantly with all the muted blues and greys of the environment. Yet at the same time, this bright red is an audacious reminder to those on the streets with their drab muted lives, and the little boy is stared at as an object of annoyance and even distaste. As he tries to settle in a tram, the tram conductor refuses to let him in because of the innocuous balloon. The little boy, late for school, then has to run with the balloon on his adorable short legs. Yet, even at school, he is regarded with suspicion by the school guard. He then lets go of the balloon and gives it a firm talking to -- as aforementioned in this review -- telling the balloon to be good and stay right where he left it. And the balloon, which has a sensitive and humorous mind of its own, floats away. From here on out, the quaint adventure begins.

While the story is simple, the allegorical nature of this film can hardly be lost on the viewer. What does the balloon represent? Does it represent the soul, the unbound instinct of human, the faculty which moves us, binds us to this existence? Does it represent the imagination of a child, a bright but precious and fragile thing, easily stomped out by society as one ages? Is it hope? All we know is that whatever this luminous balloon is, it is sympathetic to the boy, follows the boy around, and one can dare say even loves the boy-- and is detested by the pillars of society, detested by the institutions which mark society. The balloon is categorically rejected by the trams, by the school, by the church, by conscientious people on the street, by the boy's mother, by the neighbors, by the maids, and even by the other children. Only the young boy, with his shabby clothes and attache and gentle smile cares for the balloon, teases it, protects it, and is ultimately the only person the balloon allows to hold its rope.

For those who are put off by a mostly silent film, I want to mention just how beautiful the soundtrack is. So intuitive, so genuine. I could feel my spirits soar with each scene and moment simply by the music. So earnest, and wonderful. Rarely have I heard a soundtrack so organically blooming from within the narrative.

I liked: The imagery, the character development of the boy, the balloon, and even the city and town.

I disliked: Well, here it is. The first film for which I have not a single comment in negative criticism.

100/100
A gem and a beauty. A must see for anyone at all interested in films. Very reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin's The Kid