THE MOVING PICTURE BOY ARCHIVE

LE BALLON ROUGE

Title: Le ballon rouge
English translation of title: The Red Balloon
Year of Release: 1956
Director: Albert Lamorisse
Country of Production: France
Principal Boy Actors: The protagonist is played by Pascal Lamorisse, the director's son.
Genre: Fantasy drama, Short
Length: 34 min
Language: French, but very little dialogue
Availability: The film is widely available, including in a blu-ray collection released by Criterion under the title The Red Balloon and Other Stories, which features all five of the director's fantasy films.

Synopsis
A young boy, Pascal, who lives in the old Ménilmontant neighbourhood of Paris, forms a friendship with a red balloon, which follows him around. However, this arouses the envy of the local boys who attempt to capture the balloon.

Some critical opinions, and an interview with Pascal Lamorisse, can be viewed here.

Below; left, original film poster; right, Japanese 2008 re-release poster

   

Below: Publicity photos, the second used as the basis for the Japanese poster above. As one can see, in the poster the picture was modified so that the Eiffel Tower is seen reflected in the balloon.

   

Screenshots