The Red Balloon
The Red Balloon • 34m
Directed by Albert Lamorisse • 1956 • France
Starring Pascal Lamorisse
Rarely has the spirit of childhood been evoked as exquisitely as in this Academy Award–winning cinematic fable, a fantasy with the texture of reality. On the streets of 1950s Paris, a young boy (played by director Albert Lamorisse’s son, Pascal) is launched on a miraculous adventure when he’s playfully pursued by a shiny red balloon that seems to have a mind of its own—until the harsh realities of the world interfere, setting the stage for a deeply moving finale. Shot in beautifully muted Technicolor, this beguiling allegory of innocence and transcendence has inspired generations of viewers to let their imaginations take flight.
Up Next in The Red Balloon
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Pascal Lamorisse on THE RED BALLOON
In this interview, conducted in Paris in 2023, Pascal Lamorisse, the son of Albert Lamorisse, discusses his father’s work and approach to filmmaking,
as well as his own experiences on several of his films. -
My Father Was a Red Balloon
In this 2008 documentary, directed by Chloé Scialom, Pascal Lamorisse recounts to his young daughter Lysa his experiences with his father, Albert Lamorisse, and how he influenced his own interest in film and photography.
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Albert Lamorisse on “Pile ou face,” 1957
The following segment from the French television program “Pile ou face”
features director Albert Lamorisse discussing THE RED BALLOON, WHITE MANE, and his philosophy of filmmaking with a group of young students.
