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Le Ballon rouge

Le Ballon rouge

1956
Family/Kids, Fantasy
Short Film
34m
A boy finds a balloon - or is it the other way around? Together the pair wanders the beautiful streets of Paris, coping with grownups and the local bands of childrens. When one of the pair disappears, the loss is but temporary... (imdb)
Your probable score
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Le Ballon rouge

1956
Family/Kids, Fantasy
Short Film
34m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 69.41% from 1009 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(1009)
Compact view
Compact view
Rated 06 May 2012
50
23rd
A little nerd gets a sentient red balloon as his best friend. A roving band of hellions decides it has to die so they shoot it with a slingshot to bring it down and then curb stomp it for the killing blow. Then every balloon in Paris abducts the boy to take him to balloon land or something. It is what it is....a weird short.
Rated 15 Sep 2012
70
65th
I like it, it's sweet and the anthropomorphization of the balloon is effective; but I find it somewhat overrated.
Rated 22 Feb 2011
85
54th
Uplifting.
Rated 16 Aug 2008
76
58th
Avant-garde filmmaking for children. Beyond the simple narrative of a boy and his friendly balloon, and the simple theme of malice vs. innocence, the movie is also a fabulous snapshot of a certain place at a certain time. The Menilmontant streets are gray and drab and still scarred from the war, but burst with a character all their own. It's a location so distinctly French that even without the few lines of dialogue, there's no mistaking where you are. It didn't blow my mind, but it's pleasant.
Rated 08 Dec 2008
100
99th
A PERFECT example of film narrative and structure. Anthropomorphizing won't ever be done on the level of this caliber and artistry (too high a praise? Probably, but this is one film that will stick with me until I die). All without words, Pascal shows the beauty of friendship, the hardships of society and life, the powers of imagination, and the transcendence rewarded for empathy towards others. Again, perfect.
Rated 26 Apr 2008
91
95th
A beautifully poetic movie about childhood innocence. There's a charm to the way the boy and the balloon are photographed that melts away any cynicism I would have about such a silly story. What makes it great is the contrast with the violent oppressive world around them, the jealous children and serious adults are the most obvious ones, but the WWII scarred streets of Paris serve as a stark reminder of how cruel the world can be. The ending is a little cheesy but fits the movie's tone.
Rated 01 Jan 2010
55
45th
The fucking thing should've just popped as soon as he picked it up. Would've saved me the agony of watching this.
Rated 29 May 2009
3
9th
Would've worked nicely as a a cartoon (watch 'Up' instead). As for that ending: regurgitating...
Rated 01 Jun 2012
100
99th
Beautifully shot, timeless, cute, equally fun for children and adults.
Rated 07 Jan 2012
99
91st
it was amazing wooowww:))) perfext stranger
Rated 12 Sep 2011
72
48th
No don't leave that balloon outside it'll fly away! Wait it isn't? Holy crap! Man, the death of the balloon is gruesome. It's like American History Balloon or something. I think the balloon should have gotten an Oscar. Anyway, you can examine this movie and what it means, but even on the surface... somehow 35 minutes of basically watching a balloon chill out wasn't boring. Wu-Tang is for the kids! Er... sorry, The Red Balloon is for the kids! Seriously, make your kids watch this.
Rated 01 Sep 2012
55
53rd
It's quite pleasant watching the red balloon float around the dreary city, and seeing the child float away at the end. But if every balloon suddenly gained sentience and control, couldn't they find anything better to do than follow around this little kid?
Rated 01 Mar 2009
80
75th
I grew up reading the book version of the story so it's got some strong sentimental value for me. It's a touching and adorable story, and it's very effective in getting you to feel affection and empathy for a balloon of all things.
Rated 23 Feb 2009
85
75th
Cute. There's no children flicks like that anymore, what a shame...
Rated 15 May 2013
81
90th
"Balloon, wait for me here."
Rated 07 Mar 2010
70
64th
Sweet, simple and universal. A good way to introduce French film to a youngster.
Rated 05 Dec 2010
85
83rd
A movie so beautifully shot and interesting to watch that it's a shame every kid in America who sees it will associate it with school.
Rated 12 May 2010
85
93rd
Brilliant concept, quality execution, some pacing problems, beautiful ending. Not quite a classic but pretty close.
Rated 13 Oct 2011
74
41st
Adorable.
Rated 09 Sep 2012
82
58th
A brief childhood fantasy about loneliness.
Rated 26 Nov 2011
71
58th
Really cute story that uses almost no dialogue. I'm not sure if I'd call it a "short" since it's something like 50 minutes long, but it was still fun. It just had a really strange ending.
Rated 03 May 2010
0
0th
I was bored to death already after first 30 seconds and after that it just become worst.
Rated 16 Aug 2013
9
94th
Enjoyment: 9/10, Plot: 8/10 Themes: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Direction: 8/10 Acting: 7/10 Writing: 8/10 Score: 9/10 Editing: 8/10 Design: 8/10
Rated 28 May 2011
80
89th
Good, very good... not great.
Rated 13 Dec 2012
3
45th
I know it's delightful much in the same way that I know the food on the Food Network is delicious. But I had no personal response. Maybe it was the constant medium shots or the subtle editing, but I'd wished it was a bit more emotionally manipulating.
Rated 25 May 2015
8
71st
As magical as it is simple, "The Red Balloon" is a wonderful window into the simple wonders of childhood.
Rated 19 Feb 2012
78
88th
Offers a simple view of life, but it's still the most powerful 30-some-minute children's fantasy movie ever.
Rated 09 Jan 2010
80
67th
Come on, nobody with a heart can dislike this. This is the innocence that movies nowadays lack.
Rated 07 Aug 2011
80
71st
A delightful kids' short. While Spartan in theme, the film excels in its lightness by avoiding a lot of annoying complex things like dialogue. Balloons are such fascinating metaphors, because, for children, they provide an expression of the briefness of mortal existence, expediated to emphasize the point, and to top it all off its fate lies in the hands of its owner. Everyone's had a day where all the kids want to ruin one's fun for no reason other than youthful chaos.
Rated 30 Nov 2011
76
52nd
#471
Rated 05 May 2012
60
18th
blon, cocukluk, fantastik, cocuklarin vandalizmi, (kirmizi bir balonla cocugun hikayesini anlatiyor, balon cocugun sözünden cikmiyor. Finalde diger cocuklar balonu patlatiyor. Nerdeyse hic konusma yok. Film sesli)
Rated 26 Aug 2014
77
37th
The balloon council have found you guilty of murdering a balloon, we sentence you to death via oxygen deprivation. Guards, carry him away.
Rated 06 Mar 2009
90
84th
We used to nag our french teacher every day to watch this movie. Must have seen it a dozen times.
Rated 11 Dec 2011
30
78th
"The story of a boy and his toy, The Red Balloon is widely praised for its narrative and visual "purity," but not enough is said about the movie's delightful manipulation." - Paul Schrodt
Rated 09 Oct 2010
95
82nd
Simple and Beautiful.
Rated 29 Aug 2012
25
46th
Very charming.
Rated 28 May 2013
79
72nd
It's cute, no need to overthink it.
Rated 06 Jan 2012
91
91st
A magnificent example of visual film making, The Red Balloon presents its simple, but not simplistic, tale with a quiet humanism. By placing the boy amid a mysterious, grown-up, and at times dangerous world, the film engenders instant sympathy for its protagonist, not to mention providing a striking contrast with the colorful balloon. With a light touch that blends comedy, tragedy, and catharsis, the film ends up much more complex than its straightforward narrative lets on.
Rated 13 Sep 2015
83
87th
I grew up watching this. No wonder I'm suspicious of children.
Rated 13 Sep 2013
75
89th
I remember seeing this when I was about the age of the boy in the film, I have never forgotten it, excellent film.
Rated 13 Mar 2011
95
96th
Magical.
Rated 13 Jun 2012
90
83rd
-Kardesimin onerisiyle beraber izledik. Cok az diyalog var. Fantastik ve surukleyici bir hikaye. (13.06.2012)
Rated 23 Jan 2016
75
85th
Whimsical and fun, plays out like a child's imagination. The film gave off a sense of nostalgia and let me remember my own childhood sense of wonder. The humor is gentle and fun, a real treat for people of all ages.
Rated 14 Jan 2010
78
56th
432
Rated 23 Nov 2017
70
78th
Reminds you of some of Majid Majidi's works.
Rated 25 Nov 2007
80
68th
Charming, funny children's story. What six year old wouldn't want a balloon that loves him and follows him around?
Rated 11 Jul 2010
86
80th
A genuinely lovely, charming short with a perfect ending.
Rated 09 Mar 2011
80
85th
Extremely touching and beautiful. This is truly a gem. What initially appears as a rather silly and simplistic story turns out to be enchanting enough to move even the biggest cynics. The ending is pitch-perfect.
Rated 24 Jul 2014
88
88th
Beautiful and touching.
Rated 05 May 2008
87
93rd
I cared more about that balloon than I do most human characters.
Rated 18 Sep 2017
86
88th
My grandfather auditioned for the role of the balloon.
Rated 11 Oct 2012
65
59th
Lonely or Not, this film has more than two things to offer.
Rated 30 Dec 2008
90
92nd
The greatest twist I've ever seen.
Rated 24 Aug 2009
79
67th
A sweet film with a very happy ending. It wasn't as good the second time I watched it but it's probably one of the most children appropriate children films ever.
Rated 17 Jul 2010
4
74th
Did I really just sympathize with a balloon? Beautiful locations.
Rated 07 Aug 2018
45
18th
I'm sorry no. Just watch the Florida project instead.
Rated 28 May 2019
88
88th
..........8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8..........
Rated 30 Nov 2020
43
37th
Hiya, Georgie!
Rated 24 Feb 2021
8
86th
Beautiful in so many ways.
Rated 15 Apr 2021
92
92nd
Brilliantly simplistic, but so encapsulating of both a nostalgic childhood sense of imagination and a desperate plea for hope in post-war Paris. There's a juxtaposition of the hardened adults who lived through terror, and a new generation who has only seen the effects of the war. On a stylistic level, it's beautifully filmed & the balloon physics are wonderfully done; I kept wondering how exactly they pulled off certain things with the technology of the time. The very definition of charming.
Rated 06 Aug 2021
85
82nd
??????????/????????????/1956??
Rated 22 Oct 2021
70
64th
A sweet little film where scenes flow to scenes with entirely emphasized simplicity, and simplicity works in its favor. It takes great talent to make a beautiful and meaningful film out of so little material. I would never imagine a balloon could be a three-dimensional character! Having said that, I find The Red Balloon slightly overrated.
Rated 27 Nov 2021
60
72nd
Practical effects put to great use.
Rated 17 May 2022
80
72nd
A beautiful film about childhood innocence and wonder. The post-war washed out locations and drab costumes contrast perfectly with the bright red balloon to great effect. There are very few bright colors outside of balloons in the film, so much so that I wonder if there is any purpose for the few that make it in. I also wonder how they managed some of the effects in 1956. An ode to childhood wonder and against the rigidities and concessions of adult life.
Rated 02 Sep 2022
80
79th
This is quite a cute and endearing short film, with little dialogue. It showcases the innocence of childhood well and it has perhaps a little of a cartoon-y feel to it with the bright red colour of the balloon sticking out over the darkly coloured city surroundings the boy (Pascal) finds himself in. I thought it was cute that he put it under a passer by's umbrella to protect it from the rain but that's all I'll say, so as not to spoil the rest of the film. I would recommend this, yes.
Rated 05 Jan 2024
50
11th
Pascal: "Could you hold my balloon while I'm in school?"

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