Albert Lamorisse’s 1956 classic, The Red Balloon, is a heart-warming tale of childhood fantasy. The film follows Pascal, who discovers a red balloon one morning on his route to school and takes it into his care. Yet, the balloon he has acquired seems to have a mind of its own, following orders given by Pascal. The Red Balloon is a brilliant children’s film that delves into the experience, and minds, of children who live in a world built for adults.
The film is set in Paris during the late 1950s yet, the movie's focus is never on the famous city. Instead, Lamorisse shows only the side of Paris that makes up Pascal's world. The film's backdrop is not particularly special, most of it washed out in grey. This can be seen in the streets that…show more content… Throughout the film, there is a clear lack of attention the children are receiving from the adults in their lives. For example, when a group of boys from school chase Pascal through the streets to steal his balloon, the adults they pass pay little attention to their actions (“The Red Balloon”). These small insights give hint as to why a young boy such as Pascal might find solace in keeping this balloon around. To Pascal, the balloon does not represent a simple object. He treats it as a companion, giving it orders and bringing it with him everywhere he goes (“The Red Balloon”). The question one might ask is why Pascal seeks out this companionship in a balloon? Like many other young kids, Pascal appears to be rather lonely. He walks to and from school alone and seems to be picked on by the kids around him (“The Red Balloon”). It is clear that when Pascal discovers the balloon, it is exactly what he is looking for, a friend and a little bit of magic in his world (Selznick). Pascal never questions the unusualness of the balloon, despite its surreal qualities (“The Red Balloon”). Instead, he trusts it with the kind of naïve optimism only a child can possess. In contrast, the adults in the film struggle to wrap their heads around the balloon. In one scene, the balloon seems to taunt a schoolteacher, floating close by his head yet pulling away each time he tries to grab it (“The Red Balloon”). The balloon hints at a greater understanding that only the children in the film
