Prismark10 Last time I watched this film, I was a school kid and watched it on a black and white television. So it was more the grey balloon. Now many years later I got the opportunity to watch it in high definition. It certainly rekindled memories of my younger days and the film certainly retains it charms, in fact its power and influence has grown.Having visited Paris many times, it seems rather eerie to see the Paris of yesteryear, much of which no longer exists with very few recognizable picture postcard scenes of the city. The film is simple, charming but with a technical brilliance as the filmmakers used thin wires to control the balloon.The plot involves a young boy who finds a bright red balloon and it simply starts to follow him everywhere with seemingly sentient abilities. Soon other kids want to take it away from him and even destroy it. The film has little dialogue and a good use of music and colour.The film might be deemed to be a parable, the importance of friendship and might also have religious overtones. The boy, who happens to be the director's son is charming. This short film deserves its reputation and all the awards it won.

philcold2-614-250707 I first saw this movie when I was 7 years old, in France. It is now so far as 47 years. What a wonderful movie, who tells about love, envy, travel, incomprehension on behalf of the others, dreams of childhood, passion for our belongings, blindness of the adults and many more... I have never given a 10 for any movie. But I give it to this one, because it is the movie which gave me the desire to see movies. It is the movie which had created in me the passion for stories told with images and music. Life is so beautiful and the cinema gives to our lives still to take advantage of it, with a simple story to be told, so simple as that of that red balloon flying over our heads.

bts1984 This 34-minute fantasy short film is wonderful. It's almost incredible that it was made in 1956 because it's far from looking that old, partially because it's colored and partially because of its film-making. Looks more like something made in the 1970's than 11 years after the end of World War II. Ahead. The ingenuousness of this story captivates, but the way it is told is just as captivating. This isn't a silent tale however it has very little dialog. But it works. The wonderful music by Maurice Le Roux and the images speak for themselves.This is the lovely story of Pascal, a cute and adorable 5/6 year-old child who, while walking through the streets of good old Paris, finds an unexpected but very special friend: a red balloon with a life and mind of its own. The balloon quickly gets fond of his human friend, following him everywhere and patiently waiting for him whatever time it takes. The kid accepts his unusual new friend and together they spend time and have fun in the streets of Paris. The pair draw attentions from society (they don't seem to understand and accept their friendship). Worse is the envy of a group of bullies, who near the ending throw rocks at the innocent balloon. And then one of them intentionally stomps at the dying balloon, killing the poor balloon.The ending is rather childish but undeniably charming and magical: countless balloons come to Pascal and take him on a balloon ride over Paris. It's as if the balloons are taking Pascal to a fantasy world where balloons and children can be happy forever. It's amazing how they did these "tricks" with all those balloons in 1956 and so masterfully!Albert Lamorisse superbly directed this and his own children star in it: his son Pascal Lamorisse plays Pascal, while his daughter Sabine Lamorisse plays the little girl with a blue balloon (equally with a mind of its own). Pascal Lamorisse is magnificent in this role. So is the red balloon, a great "actor" on his own. And the other balloons too.The Paris scenario is very pretty and colorful, accenting the feeling of french charm. 95% of what we see here no longer exists. That is sad. So many good things are sacrificed in the name of progress.This short couldn't be more innocent and sweeter, and yet at the same time it is slightly humorous (in its majority it is) and sad (such is the case when the balloon is cruelly destroyed). It is also a powerful reminder of the age of innocence, when children were really children and were happy with the simple pleasures of life, such as a balloon and wandering around. I still remember when I was a kid and how I'd get so happy over a balloon whenever they bought me one. One simple thing like a balloon was something special. And I am from a time when children still could wander around in some safety. Nowadays you never see children wandering around and they don't appreciate balloons and many other things like the children of my generation and before my generation did.Anyone who loves this has got to love 'Clown' (1968), equally a short film and french and similar in some ways.Title in Portugal: unknown, but it would make every sense to be 'O Balão Vermelho'.

michalchik I know a lot of people loved this movie but as a kid I didn't. It seemed boring and dreary. The lack of dialog and the spare gray streets made the movie seems desolate. The balloon looked weird not like any balloon I knew as a kid. The bullying seemed cruel and unmotivated. A balloon seemed like a pathetic friend that was neither very fun. The death of the red balloon was genuinely sad. The supposed liberating resolution did not make up for it. In fact it was scary and left me wondering if the boy fell to his death, was suspended in the sky forever or was taken some place far away with no way to take care of himself. I also felt sad for all the kids that were deprived of their balloons when they all flew to the boy. It seemed unfair.