At 34 minutes the term "movie" represents a bit of a stretch for this delightful 1956 classic children's film. Like a Christo's "Gates" abstract art piece from Central Park in 2002, the vibrant red of the balloon is visually striking against the blacks and grays of post-invasion Paris. The relationship between the boy and the balloon, his efforts to protect it from the dangers of the teachers, adults and particularly the other boys makes for a compelling narrative despite the near complete lack of dialog. This combined with an inspiring ending make this a must see (particularly since it takes just a little more time than your average "Hannah Montana" episode.
Review of The Red Balloon
