Film

The Red Balloon

Name: The Red Balloon
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Released: 1956
Cast: Pascal Lamorisse, Georges Sellier, Vladimir Popov, Paul Perey, Renée Marion

Almost wordless and over in half an hour, this is one of the purest things ever put on film: a lonely boy in postwar Paris befriends a red balloon that follows him everywhere, like a loyal, mischievous pet. Shot on real streets in real light, it's less a story than a feeling — tender, funny, and quietly devastating by the end. Good for any age, any mood.

TMDb rating

7.7

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