The Worst Film Ever

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Delightful fantasy piece. Make of the fable what you will, but the balloon certainly brings a sense of camaraderie to the child - protection from bullies both young and old. And its brightness contrasts with the drabness of his home and neighbourhood. And where are his parents? Wonderful street scenes of the Paris of 1956.

I knew about this film since I was a kid and had heard great reviews about it, although I never saw it .myself when I was young I finally got to watch it recently as an adult and although I watched it with interest and high expectations I was somewhat disappointed that it did not move me us much as I expected. I totally understand those that watched this movie when young and could identify themselves with the boy in the film. Probably at that time it was great and now they are re-experiencing those emotions with nostalgia. But I think it will not bring the same thing out of the new generations nor from the adults watching the film for the first time. In summary, it was cute, not a bad experience and one of those films that you HAVE to watch, but outdated.

This simple and acclaimed short film is full of charm. Winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (which is odd for a short), the sparse script isn't the most endearing highlight, but the lush cinematography that's still beyond its time even for today, giving the spotlight to a snapshot of French history through the streets of Paris. It has a beautiful naivety about it, without feeling too contrived, even as the rich musical score dances with the image. Near the end, there's a somber feeling of the movie magic ending when really, it's just beginning. The contrast in awareness is absolutely uplifting, sparking the inner passion for films. The Red Balloon provides the foundation for the genuine wide appeal cinema in its most basic form.8/10

Like so many others who have contributed reviews of The Red Balloon, I too had special memories, long buried and locked away in my mind, that resurfaced immediately when I ran across a still image from the movie. I, too, had one of those "I must see this again" responses to that memory. It's kind of weird when you think about it - like a subconscious or hypnotic suggestion that got planted in our brains 30, 40, 50 years ago...Watching it again I was surprised at how little of it I actually remembered. But the image of the boy with the giant round red balloon was seared into my psyche as a child, and it now evokes emotions and nostalgic feelings unlike any others I have yet re-experienced.Now, as an adult in 2012, I am struck by the photographic and emotional brilliance of juxtaposing a vividly red over-sized and very round balloon against a predominantly gray backdrop. Even the boy is dressed entirely in gray when he adopts the balloon. From the moment the balloon enters the stage it becomes the point of visual contrast. The film, shot in Technicolor, was probably not manipulated too much in terms of its tonality the way digital editors do today. What you see is pretty much what was there. And that was a lot of blue-gray neutral tones and one big bright red balloon.I am also aware of something else. Maybe some have discussed this, maybe not. But beyond the story and any subliminal, archetypal references to Christianity or other mysticism or fable is the magic of how the film was made. I don't know how they did it. Obviously they had some means of controlling the balloon's movement. I did not see any strings or wires aside from the rather hefty string attached to the balloon throughout the film (granted, I was watching it on Youtube, so, not the best optical quality). Not only does the balloon bob and weave, rise and fall and thus become its own character with apparent emotions and seemingly intentional playfulness, but the white string dangling from the balloon has its own "emotions" attached to it, much like a cat's tail. So not only did the director succeed in the challenge of making a balloon appear to have a mind of its own, he also somehow gave the "tail" a separate personality.Given that this film was made in the mid-1950's, the technique the director used to maneuver the balloon and its string was undoubtedly some sort of wonderful feat at the time. If the film were made today, the balloon would be CGI-ed in post (and any guide wires would be digitally erased). Big whoop. Let's see Hollywood filmmakers return to real filmmaking magic rather than defaulting to computer-generated stuff that goes so far beyond 'analog' (natural) credibility that it becomes un-real. What makes The Red Balloon so much more special today, in my opinion, is that we KNOW that a real balloon can't possibly do the things that this red balloon does. And yet we know that this balloon IS a real balloon. And we are mystified and enchanted as a result. Therein lies the true magic of filmmaking.