The Red Balloon

The Red Balloon
by Albert Lamorisse

List Price: ~~$14.95~~
Our Price: $8.99
You Save: $5.96 (40%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: VHS Video
See more movie releases

Buy this VHS video movie at online store in your country
Canada

Product details

Actor: Georges Sellier, Pascal Lamorisse, Paul Perey, Ren? Marion, Vladimir Popov (II)
Director: Albert Lamorisse
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: French (Original Language), Analog
Format: Color, NTSC
Running Time: 34 minutes
Release Date: 1996-02-20
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: Homevision
Studio: Homevision

VHS Movie Reviews of The Red Balloon

Movie Review: The Red Balloon
Summary: 5 Stars

This was one of my favorite movies from my childhood -- actually, I was in Junior High Language Arts when I saw it. Now that I am a teacher, I can't wait to share it with my students!! I still get that same wonderful feeling at the end!!

Movie Review: The Red Ballon
Summary: 5 Stars

Wonderful, wonderful ageless story. All children will relate to the lonely boy, whose friend is the "red ballon."

Movie Review: Exquisite
Summary: 5 Stars

Had to buy the DVD to replace my own VHS cassette. I just love this film. I've watched it again and again since I was a child and it is sweepingly poignant every time.

Movie Review: A delightful classic for any age
Summary: 5 Stars

I've never tired of this charming short film. The cinematography is still amazing all these years later.

Movie Review: A Sentimental and Whimsical Classic
Summary: 5 Stars

Interestingly, this film preceded "Old Yeller" by one year. As well as being enduring childhood classics, those two tales have certain themes in common, but whereas "Old Yeller" deals with a living creature, this tale breathes life into a normally inanimate object.
My first encounter with "Le Ballon Rouge" was when it was shown to my kindergarten class in the mid-70s. I had no idea until years later that by that time, it was nearly 20 years old. Its appeal, nonetheless, is timeless.
Using sparse dialogue, and Parisian locales, Director Albert Lamorisse presents the tale of a small boy (his son,Pascal)who finds a magical red balloon tied to a lamp post, and takes it home with him. Largely gray Paris gives the redness of the balloon an interesting and sharp onscreen contrast.
Like a faithful dog, the the air-filled sphere with a string follows him everywhere, often on its own, and with an occasional exception, waits for him outside places where it is not allowed to enter. It obeys its master's commands, attracts attention in public, and has a brief flirtation with a blue balloon of a similar caliber, owned by a pretty little girl (the director's daughter, Sabine).
But alas, the adventures of boy and balloon are abreviated due to a rowdy group of boys.But it is as though the balloon knew its time was short somehow, as if it knew it was meant to give its owner delight only for a little while and did so to the fullest. There would be other delightful times and other magical balloons, but always one special one that would be remembered fondly.
The little boy's heartbreak is happily short-lived in this sweet tale of friendship, loss, and renewal, and viewers may be left moved and satisfied, perhaps with a few sentimental tears.

Write your own review

Summary of The Red Balloon

One of the most famous short films ever made, The Red Balloon is a childhood fantasy with appeal for viewers of every age. It is the story of Pascal, a lonely French boy who befriends a wondrous red balloon which follows him everywhere--to school and church--and even hovers outside his window when he is in his room. Filmed entirely in the picturesque back streets and narrow alleys of Old Montmartre, the film has been acclaimed through the world as an immortal masterpiece of lyrical poetry. The Red Balloon is both a beguiling fantasy and a touching allegory on the magic powers of love and friendship.

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

French Video

Video Genres

Movies most talked about in French Video

Mr. Hulot's Holiday
Homevision; Release date: 2000-06-06; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $44.95

Babette's Feast
Orion Home Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $18.15
Price in other shops: ~~$19.99~~

Jonah Who Will Be 25 in the Year 2000
New Yorker Video; Release date: 1998-01-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $55.00

Train of Life
Paramount; Release date: 2000-05-23; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: ~~$75.95~~

When the Cat's Away
Columbia/Tri-Star; Release date: 1998-06-30; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops: ~~$21.96~~

Burnt by the Sun
Sony Pictures; Release date: 1996-10-22; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

The Red Balloon
Homevision; Release date: 1996-02-20; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $15.95

Kiki's Delivery Service
Walt Disney Video; Release date: 1998-09-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.15
Price in other shops: ~~$14.99~~

Bizet - Carmen / Maazel, Migenes, Domingo
RCA/Columbia; Release date: 1992-12-07; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $44.99

Latcho Drom
New Yorker Video; Release date: 1998-11-11; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $59.90

Similar Video, DVDs, Audio CDs

Death of a Cyclist
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2008-04-22; DVD
Best price: $20.29
Price in other shops: ~~$29.95~~

Pierrot le Fou - Criterion Collection
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2008-02-19; DVD
Best price: $27.20
Price in other shops: ~~$39.95~~

The Fire Within - Criterion Collection
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2008-05-13; DVD
Best price: $20.29
Price in other shops: ~~$29.95~~

Trafic - Criterion Collection
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2008-07-15; DVD
Best price: $27.22
Price in other shops: ~~$39.95~~

Vampyr - Criterion Collection
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2008-07-22; DVD
Best price: $25.99
Price in other shops: ~~$39.95~~

The Red Balloon
by Albert Lamorisse
Doubleday Books for Young Readers; Published: 1967-08-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.35
Price in other shops: ~~$16.95~~

The Lovers - Criterion Collection
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2008-05-13; DVD
Best price: $16.98
Price in other shops: ~~$29.95~~

The Thief of Bagdad - Criterion Collection
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $27.22
Price in other shops: ~~$39.95~~