The Red Balloon

Name: The Red Balloon
Genre: Fantasy
Released: TODO_MISSING
Rating: 96

1956, Fantasy, 34m

23 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

The Red Balloon invests the simplest of narratives with spectacular visual inventiveness, making for a singularly wondrous portrait of innocence. Read critic reviews

Drifting Clouds

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Grave of the Fireflies

A Queen Is Crowned

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The Red Balloon Photos

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Movie Info

A red balloon with a life of its own follows a boy around Paris.

Rating:

TVG
Genre:

Fantasy
Original Language:

French (France)
Director:

Albert Lamorisse
Producer:

Albert Lamorisse
Writer:

Albert Lamorisse
Release Date (Theaters):

Mar 11, 1957 original
Release Date (Streaming):

Apr 29, 2006
Runtime:

34m
Distributor:

Lopert Pictures Corp.

Cast & Crew

Pascal Lamorisse
Pascal the Boy

Vladimir Popov
Tennant

Paul Perey

Renée Marion
Pascal's Mother

Sabine Lamorisse
Little Girl

Michel Pezin

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Red Balloon

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (1)

Full Review… Wesley Morris Boston Globe

Full Review… Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly

Full Review… Paul Schrodt Slant Magazine

Full Review… Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer

Full Review… Kate Fuscoe Time Out

Full Review… Bosley Crowther New York Times

Full Review… Arlene Croce Film Culture

Full Review… Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins

Full Review… Dan Jardine Cinemania

Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com

Full Review… Scott G. Mignola Common Sense Media

View All Critic Reviews (23)

Audience Reviews for The Red Balloon

Apr 29, 2016

A marvelous, imaginative and magical short film (the only to have ever won an Oscar for best original screenplay) with a beautiful musical score and so many layers of meaning in its simple story that it should speak to most children and make any adult feel like a child again.

Carlos M Super Reviewer
Mar 17, 2013

Short, simple and mostly silent, "The Red Balloon" is a thoughtful, creative reflection on childhood, imagination and friendship, and its timeless story should resonate with everyone that sees it.

Stephen E Super Reviewer
Mar 12, 2013

Lamorisse's simple short view of life through the voyage of a red balloon is magical and inspired many a film maker in its aftermath. A nice breezy half hour flight.

John B Super Reviewer
May 03, 2012

A sweet little film, very simple in its screenplay and with limited dialogue that means it will be appeal to all ages and nationalities. The balloon is the star and the way it moves around and follows the little boy is very cleverly done. The way the other children pick on the boy and then attack the balloon I suspect is symbolic and the beautiful ending was nicked by 'Up' many years later. A nice short film.

David S Super Reviewer