The Black Balloon DVD
The Black Balloon follows the trials and tribulations of Michael Mollison, the younger brother of an autistic and ADD stricken young man and his family as they cope with their day to day life.
Film making 24/25
Video 20/25
Audio 22/25
Bonus Features 18/25
Total 84/100
Luke Ford gives an excellent performance as the autistic older brother Charlie Mollison to highlight this family drama about the trials of growing up in an other than normal family. Rhys Wakefield plays Thomas Mollison who is just turning 16 and having to endure another move due to his father's military career in Australia.
When Thomas is again forced to move his life is also once again turned upside down with making new friends, enduring his outgoing parents along with older brother Charlie. The film does focus on Thomas having to endure life as a teenager with the exceptional problems of his older brother who is autistic with ADD and his mothers pregnancy.
When life continues as usual after the move Thomas finds himself in yet another school to try and make new friends or at least just get along. He does try to hide the fact that his brother is autistic but only because he is tired of having to deal with everything to do with it and only longs for a normal life.
The film revolves around Thomas but includes plenty of glimpses into the life of Charlie and his parents as well as how cruel others can be toward them. Thomas finds a new friend and even though a few instances of embarrassing and over the top gross stuff happens Jackie Masters, played by Gemma Ward, is understanding and still wants to be friends with Thomas.
Thomas has to deal with a lot more than he bargained for when his mother is bedridden during the later part of her pregnancy so father and son have to deal with the daily home life and dealing with Charlie. When His mother does give birth Jackie is over for a birthday party for Thomas to see Thomas break down after a highly embarrassing act from Charlie.
Thomas beats his brother up and the house erupts once again but soon feelings and emotions are brought under control and Thomas really does feel bad for what he did. Jackie without having much of a reason understands Thomas and continues to be friends with Thomas and Charlie.
The movie ends with Thomas filling in at the last minute for a classmate of Charlie's who has a breakdown and refuses to take the stage for their class play. Thomas and Charlie break out in dance in the play together and end the film as the brothers and friends they are.
While you can certainly understand the emotion filled roller coaster that the daily life must be you are given an intimate look at this life through the whole film. Thomas is given the life and adolescent emotions very well by actor Rhys Wakefield and Luke Ford does an exceptional job as the highly autistic older brother.
The whole film has you wondering what highly emotional and disturbing thing Charlie will do next and when some moments do not come it is nothing short of a huge relief. But when he does do those embarrassing things you only ask yourself what would be your reaction and would you be able to handle things as well as Thomas or the rest of the family.
The Black Balloon really has you wondering how you would cope in the same type of situation and is an emotional roller coaster of a movie. The film is in standard definition and the audio is in 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound for a great movie technically.
The video is well done and without problems at all and even the scene with Charlie smearing his own feces on the carpet makes you go yuck and wow at the same time. The audio is a bit better and almost perfect with one scene really sticking out in my mind.
The mother is in bed at the hospital with everyone visiting and another couple with their newborn on the other side, I actually thought for a second who brought a baby into my living room as it really did sound like a baby crying in the other room and not in the film.
The Black Balloon really is a great film and one of those touching and heartfelt movies that is a must see even if you don't like family drama's that are almost too realistic. While The Black Balloon may not be a collection must have it is definitely a must see film so get out and find it for a rental at the very least.