Le Ballon Rouge (The Red Balloon) - 7 stars out of 10

Le Ballon Rouge (The Red Balloon) - 7 stars out of 10

"Le Ballon Rouge" is a cute short film about a boy who befriends a red balloon (actually... a red balloon who befriends a boy) and their adventures around Paris.  But there is a lot more to this film than a childish story about balloons and bullies.  It tells its story with minimal dialogue, its imagery is memorable, and the ending is quite poignant.  The influence of this film is not difficult to find, whether it is the balloon cluster theme of Pixar's "Up" or a parody like Don Hertzfeldt's "Billy's Balloon."  By the way, if you have never seen the aforementioned short, it is very mean-spirited but once you've seen "Le Ballon Rouge," you'll get it and it will become hilarious.  This film is a slice of Parisian life as it explores the Belleville area of Paris.  Anybody who has visited this city will enjoy the authentic feel of a Parisian neighborhood.  The film also serves as a historical record of Belleville as this area of Paris has since been demolished.  It is really special that director Albert Lamorisse used his children in the main roles and his son Pascal is very impressive.  "Le Ballon Rouge" is an all-around fun film and, while kids are sure to enjoy it, this film has enough substance to excite adults.