Le Ballon rouge (1956) - film review

A lonely young boy discovers a solitary bright red balloon and the two form an instant bond of friendship.  Wherever the boy goes, the balloon is not far behind.  When the boy gets into trouble at school, the balloon comes to his rescue.  The boy’s new-found happiness appears to be short lived when a gang of other boys are attracted to the balloon, with malicious intent...

Le Ballon rouge is a rare gem of French cinema, a captivating short film which tells a simple tale of childhood innocence, completely untainted by false sentimentality.  Although it is a short film, which manages to avoid using dialogue for the most part, it has a surprisingly great deal to say about human nature, showing both the best and worst of humanity in a modern parable that speaks to anyone, whether you are five or ninety-five.   This is a rare film that successfully captures the essence of childhood, presenting a child’s view of the world that is both convincing and engaging.

It is also a film which is highly enjoyable to watch, becoming hilarious as the balloon, apparently with a mind of its own, trails a young boy through the beautiful streets of Montmartre in Paris.  However, it is the tragic demise of the balloon near the end of the film which is most memorable, particularly as it has an almost Robert Bresson-like near-religious edge to it.  Who’d have thought that a mere balloon could provoke so many laughs and tears?

When Le Ballon rouge made its debut in 1954, it won the prestigious Palme d’Or in the short film category at Cannes.  It subsequently won an Oscar for the best original screenplay. The film has since enjoyed an enduring popularity the world over. Its director, Albert Lamorisse, has transposed the story into a children’s book and then a popular stage play.  The film itself remains one of the best-loved and mostly widely seen of all French films.

© James Travers 2001

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It is now more than 50 years since I saw this beautiful film as a very young child. I have never forgotten this wonderful piece of art. About 6 or 7 years ago, I thought it would be great to see it again, but the chance being extremely rare after all this time, I thought it would never happen.  Exactly three days later, it came on the German TV (without me knowing in advance) - and it went straight into my heart as it had done 50 years before. You cannot say that about a lot of films, can you?
Isabella (Germany) 

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