The Red Balloon (Le Ballon Rouge) (1956)

100% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
89% of users liked it
(7,199 ratings)

Most of French director Albert Lamorisse's films celebrate the miracle of flight, but few were as landmark as his 1956 short subject The Red Balloon. The story, told with a minimum of dialogue, concerns a little boy (played by the director's son Pascal) who comes across a helium-filled balloon. As… More Most of French director Albert Lamorisse's films celebrate the miracle of flight, but few were as landmark as his 1956 short subject The Red Balloon. The story, told with a minimum of dialogue, concerns a little boy (played by the director's son Pascal) who comes across a helium-filled balloon. As he plays with his new acquisition, the boy discovers that the balloon seemingly has a mind of its own. The little red orb follows its new "master" all through the streets of Paris, then dogs the boy's trail into the schoolroom, which drives the teacher to comic distraction. Towards the end, it seems as though boy and balloon will be parted forever....but director Lamorisse has a delightful surprise in store for us. In an unusual move, The Red Balloon in its American TV premiere was introduced by Ronald Reagan as an episode of the CBS anthology G.E. Theater on April 2, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 34 min.
Directed By: Albert Lamorisse
Written By: Albert Lamorisse
Genres: Kids & Family, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Nov 16, 1956 Wide
Studio: Lopert Pictures Corporation

Critic Reviews

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
A beautiful little meditation on childhood, on imagination literally taking flight.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
An utterly charming little story.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Lamorisse's lyrical tale, largeky told through imagery, holds up extremely well, and it's still the only short feature to ever win a major Oscar (original screenplay).
Scott G. Mignola, Common Sense Media
Imaginative story told entirely through visuals.
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
For those of us who don't have childhood memories driving our analysis, it's a passable kids movie that could be so much more.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Enchanting.
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
The transfer is so vivid that the balloon seems to pop from the screen, glowing luminous red against the gray of Paris streets and skies.
Paul Schrodt, Slant Magazine
Since Janus's barebones release of The Red Ballon comes with the 34-minute film and nothing more, highbrow parents might have to find other ways to entertain their kids for the day. Like, you know, Dora the Explorer.
Paul Schrodt, Slant Magazine
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.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
The key to its lasting endurance is in its simplicity.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
if you missed it as a child, now is the time to make sure you seek it out and watch it.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
It's the perfect little movie.
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
A cinematic landmark . . . Lamorisse's film floats off, with the breeze of magic-realism, into a feeling of escape and peace.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
These are two unique and unforgettable family films -- one an essential part of world cinema, the other an underseen gem -- that a new generation deserves the chance to get acquainted with
Beverly Berning, culturevulture.net
... one of the best loved films in cinema history.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
The results made exciting, memorable cinema, but could just as easily have turned into disaster. There seems to be no escaping the darker side of innocence.
Kate Fuscoe, Time Out
As enjoyable for adults who wistfully view scenes of post-war France in all its black and white chicness, as it is for kids.
, Film4
Lamorisse has a unique talent for crawling under the skins of little people.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
One of the best-loved and least-sentimental children's films of all time.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

For an older film, I like the creativity of this short, the dull backgrounds as a backdrop with the infusion of bright colours is almost reminiscent of black, white and reds, used in films such as Sweeney Todd, so shows this in a much older age. I felt this could have been a great… More
For an older film, I like the creativity of this short, the dull backgrounds as a backdrop with the infusion of bright colours is almost reminiscent of black, white and reds, used in films such as Sweeney Todd, so shows this in a much older age. I felt this could have been a great film had there been more stories coming off of the mini adventure. Many, more modern films have been modelled on such films like these, I wonder if this was one of those original style films to which people use as a reference?
Cindy I

A WONDERFUL little film about a balloon with a mind of its own. The ending will stick with you forever.
Randy T

How cool!!! If I weren't so awesomely masculine I'd be tempted to say "enchantingly delightful', but of course I AM awesomely masculine so I just say "how cool!"
Pierluigi P

Sweet fantasy that, like all great fables, takes us back to the best years of our lives.
Jennifer X

One of the most affecting and audience accessible silent movies ever. Symbolic, full, and innocent. Perfect length.
Robert C

Love, love, love this film. Believe it or not...I remember seeing this film periodically in elementary school and remember being completely enchanted and enthralled by it every time. Saw it later as an adult and the magic was still there. It is a very simple film, full of… More
Love, love, love this film. Believe it or not...I remember seeing this film periodically in elementary school and remember being completely enchanted and enthralled by it every time. Saw it later as an adult and the magic was still there. It is a very simple film, full of magic and wonder.
Greg S

A red balloon follows a 6 year old boy around Paris. This short, simple, essentially silent fable about friendship is universally beloved for good reason.
Byron B

The filmmakers succeed in giving this big red balloon personality! The balloon is a friend to the little boy though it sometimes teases and pulls away drawing the boy to places he has not been. The balloon wants to be free. While watching this film, I was reminded of the Peter,… More
The filmmakers succeed in giving this big red balloon personality! The balloon is a friend to the little boy though it sometimes teases and pulls away drawing the boy to places he has not been. The balloon wants to be free. While watching this film, I was reminded of the Peter, Paul & Mary song Puff the Magic Dragon. Both are about fleeting innocence.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"White Mane" and "The Red Balloon" are two exceptional films by Albert Lamorisse about innocence and friendship in childhood. Of the two, "White Mane" is the more traditional of the two, focusing on Folco(Alain Emery), a fisher boy… More
[font=Century Gothic]"White Mane" and "The Red Balloon" are two exceptional films by Albert Lamorisse about innocence and friendship in childhood. Of the two, "White Mane" is the more traditional of the two, focusing on Folco(Alain Emery), a fisher boy in the south of France, who befriends a wild horse that local men are coveting. As good as this is, it is no match for the inventively playful "The Red Balloon" which is about a young boy(Pascal Lamorisse) who finds a red balloon and their adventures in Paris. With this almost wordless film, Albert Lamorisse has complete confidence in himself as a filmmaker, composing sequences that boggle the mind as to how they were made. And if you know, please don't tell me.[/font]
Chris B

Amazing what can be said with film in such a short 34 minute piece. Director Albert Lamorisse conveys such emotional depth and creates a wonderful fantasy world for those that can see it through a child's eyes. Such a wonderful display of youth and its innocence!
David S

A sweet little film, very simple in its screenplay and with limited dialogue that means it will be appeal to all ages and nationalities. The balloon is the star and the way it moves around and follows the little boy is very cleverly done. The way the other children pick on the boy and… More
A sweet little film, very simple in its screenplay and with limited dialogue that means it will be appeal to all ages and nationalities. The balloon is the star and the way it moves around and follows the little boy is very cleverly done. The way the other children pick on the boy and then attack the balloon I suspect is symbolic and the beautiful ending was nicked by 'Up' many years later. A nice short film.
Dimitris S

Brilliant film,pure magic and the kids should love it if any parent had in mind Lamorisse's dedication to the innocence and playful relaxation of body/soul,instead infecting the children with plotless crap such is Shark Tale.....
Jared H

30 or so minutes of pure visual storytelling. Who would have thought that a red balloon could be such a likeable character?
cody f

A beautiful looking and sweet movie about a boy and a balloon that follows him around Paris. It reminded me of my childhood when my best friend, a balloon animal named Gorf, and I went to the zoo and he got popped by a mountain goat. Sad Days.

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

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