Le voyage du ballon rouge (2007)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Hsiao-hsien Hou

Writers:

Hsiao-hsien Hou (writer)
François Margolin (writer)

Release Date:

30 January 2008 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

A little boy and his baby-sitter inhabit the same imaginary world: through their adventures they are followed by a strange red balloon.

Plot Keywords:

Balloon | Puppet | Children | Paris | Painting

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Juliette Binoche	...	Suzanne
Simon Iteanu	...	Simon
Fang Song	...	Song
Hippolyte Girardot	...	Marc
Louise Margolin	...	Louise
Anna Sigalevitch	...	Anna
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles-Edouard Renault	...	Lorenzo

Also Known As:

À la recherche du ballon rouge (France) (working title)
Ballon rouge (France) (working title)
Flight of the Red Balloon (International: English title)
Orsay (France) (working title)
The Red Balloon (International: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | South Korea:12 | Ireland:PG | Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL | Taiwan:GP (original rating) | USA:Not Rated | Singapore:PG

Company:

Margo Films

Trivia:

The director's first film to be shot outside of Asia.

Movie Connections:

References O Jerusalem (2006)

They call it "cinema d'auteur"

At first I was surprised to see such a negative first review. After looking through the other comments I understood why. There is no middle impression on this movie. It's one of those movies that you love or hate/dislike. It's not a "good" or "not bad" movie.

I just think it touched some people, like me. I spent 1 1/2 years in Paris and I have a profound passion for French culture since I was a kid. For me, after living for more than 5 months in China, it felt good to remember Paris. I saw a movie that depicted only a snapshot of some people's lives. Their way of living, their problems are typical to the French society.

One user was talking about plot, drama. For me, this movie was more about feelings than actions. Some smiles, some tears, the image, the people. It made me remember "Paris, je t'aime".

I think that if I didn't have the Paris experience or an affinity for the French society, the movie wouldn't have touched so much. I think there's a second level in this movie that is accessible only to those who understand the French society.