The Black Balloon

The Black Balloon

2008
Drama
1h 37m
All Thomas wants is a normal adolescence but his autistic brother, Charlie, thwarts his every opportunity. Will Thomas, with the help of his girlfriend, Jackie (Ward), accept his brother? (imdb)
Your probable score
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The Black Balloon

2008
Drama
1h 37m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 54.17% from 168 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(168)
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Rated 05 Sep 2008
70
35th
Obviously a very personal movie, the strong script and tasteful cinematography mark Elissa Down as an upcoming director to keep an eye on.
Rated 19 Aug 2016
75
37th
I can't lie, the main source of enjoyment was the wonderful Gemma Ward playing the kind of character none of us ever knew at school. Toni Collette and Erik Thomson provided quality support as the quirky parents. The movie tackles a hard & worthy topic, sometimes with skill and tenderness, but the main problems are that the main character is written as a douchebag and never redeemed, and several of the film's scenes seem like clichéd repeats of typical teen film material. Shows some promise.
Rated 29 May 2010
77
74th
Great. Strong story in which we get a view in the life of an autistic person, but we also get to see how his family has to deal with this. Strong, personal and moving. Great performances by all the actors. I was especially amazed by Luke Ford's performance; impersonating an autistic person as strong as he did deserves credit.
Rated 13 Nov 2010
25
61st
"Elissa Down's semi-autobiographical film always manages to counter its indie clichés with a sober sense of the volatility that comes from living with an autistic individual." - Nick Schager
Rated 14 Apr 2009
89
75th
This one is a heartwarmer. It is bittersweet, especially for those who know and love someone with special needs. The writers have cornered the market on the blessing and burdens of this family dynamic in a way that is both thought-provoking and humerous. As always, Toni Collette is utterly convincing, and I look forward to seeing Gemma Ward in future films.
Rated 30 Mar 2009
7
57th
Sure, why not... Every one of these quirky indie films are a far cry from "Little Miss Sunshine".
Rated 23 Jul 2009
60
49th
Took me two days to watch this, stopped it 10 minutes into I just couldn't get into it. Finished it the next day and the rest of the film was much better. Rhys Wakefield's performance of a teenagers view how everything seems to be against him was what made this film interesting.
Rated 28 Aug 2010
62
30th
Why is it called "The Black Balloon"? The world may never know.
Rated 19 Aug 2009
70
20th
I found it very touching, and it really made me reflect on just what the parents of some of my students must go through at home. I did have trouble at times believing that the two boys were as young as they were supposed to be. The humour and romance were typically Australian, which is to say delightfully understated. I especially enjoyed the long poignant silences and meaningful looks.
Rated 28 Jan 2011
87
85th
Really affecting, well made film. Great acting across the board and some really memorable, touching and sometimes uncomfortable to watch scenes. Great cinematography and was very well paced.
Rated 21 Mar 2021
45
20th
A film that presents a well considered, and in parts powerful, critique of ableism and in a way that is distinctly Australian.

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