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Amazon.com The late French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse made this classic, 1956 short work about a lonely little Parisian boy (Pascal Lamorisse) befriended by a large red balloon, which seems to have a will of its own. As with his preceding short, 1952's White Mane, Lamorisse took home a grand prize from the Cannes Film Festival for The Red Balloon, and the latter film also won an Academy Award. There have been some stimulating pieces of film criticism (some pro, some con) written about the aesthetics of this little movie over the years, but there's no question it makes for a touching, allegorical piece always certain to prompt conversations among viewers of any age. --Tom Keogh ... Read more Reviews (63) 
My absolute favorite movie from my childhood.
... This movie was my absolute favorite from my childhood days. The first time I ever saw this was when I was in grade school back in the 1970's. They would show this movie at school on the old motion picture projectors on rainy days when you couldn't go out for recess. I remember falling in love with the movie instantly and always looking forward to the next time the school would show it. It was such a magical experience to watch it as a child and I can honestly say this is the only film that I can still hear and see in my memory. The music, and the sound of the little boy running through the cobble stone streets, and the stark contrast between the balloon's brilliant color and the boy's very grey world. I also remember the teachers at school telling us how they had to request this movie from the city library many months in advance because it was such a popular film with the school district. Who would have ever thought that American public schools could make such great decisions? Showing this film over and over year after year was one of the best ideas any of my teachers had. I really recommend you share this movie with your loved one's as it may just help create wonderful memories for them to look back on someday.
One of My Favorite French Films!
I have fond memories of Watching The Red Balloon when I was a little girl in the 70's. I remember it being shown in my Elementary school with an old movie projector and I also remember watching it on TV and this is still one of my favorite French movies. It is a short film about a little French boy who follows a red balloon throughout Paris and it is a very endearing movie. A Couple of years ago this movie was shown on TCM and I taped it and I see that Several reviewers have wrote about owning this movie on DVD and I would love to have it on DVD but Amazon only seems to have the video in their online catalog and no DVD so I guess that the DVD is out of print or Amazon just doesn't sell it but anyways I very highly recommend this delightful movie which is great for all ages! BTW: I liked the movie so much as a child that when I saw the book in our public library I borrowed it several times and I loved the book too!
question ???
I am trying to find this wonderful movie in dvd format. Is it hopeless? If so why?
A classic that needs to be restored..
This timeless little film is probably the best known French film in the United States. This is due to the fact that nearly every elementary school had a copy which they used to babysit the kids when a teacher was absent. This film is such an effective "babysitting" tool because it completely draws in and engages the viewer no matter their age. Lamorisse truly knew and practiced "camera as stilo". I find this film to be as fascinating and colorful now (at age 34) as I did when I was ten years old. This is truly a film masterpiece, just one of many to come out of France in the 50's and 60's. It is a shame that the DVD is so grainy and the sound so poor, the copy I have is actually a Korean DVD which is no problem as you can turn off the Korean subtitles. It would seem, as some reviewers have suggested, that this DVD was made from a copy of the film stock that was dragged through the streets. It is still watchable but it is a crime that this film masterpiece should be in such a poor state on DVD. Someone has to step up and remaster this film for DVD so that it can continue to reach children in future generations.
The Best childrens movie ever made
I saw this when I was first in kindergarten. I cried when the evil gang of boys popped the poor red balloon at the end. Ever since then I had been wanting so badly to see it again, and finally I came across it on Amazon, and had to have it. I'm 13 now, but even though it may seem strange, the red balloon still makes me laugh as though I were still 5. No kid should grow up without watching the Red Balloon. It helps stimulate the imagination, as well as show you how bad things are in the world, when you have something, and others will stop at nothing to get it.
When underpriveledged Pascal finds a large red balloon tied to a lamp post one early morning, he decides, why not take it with him to school. Things get complicated though. It seems as though the world around him is against balloons. He's not allowed to board the bus to school with it, the teacher won't allow it in the classroom, and his Mother bcomes mad at him for bringing it home. She soon throws it out the window, scolding him afterwords. But Pascal see's something out his bedroom window. It's the balloon! After bring it back in, he doesn't bother trying to figure out how it's alive, he's glad to have a friend finally, no matter who, or what it is. Maybe things won't be so bad after all. Or will they be?
Producer, and writer Albert Lammorise should've gotten a nomination for best film of the year in 1956. It's an instant five stars. After watching the film, I felt a void like all kids might for the red balloon after he got popped. But it turns out, there is a sequel, which one a film festival award called the revenge of the red balloon. It gives you satisfaction for the balloon is back, and he goes around making sure that none of the boys (now men) that popped him so long ago, never see another day of their lives. It was just as hilarious as the first, maybe even funnier, but not so much for kids. The red balloon gets a whopping 5 stars for outstanding everything. Who needs wors in a movie like this.
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