- Release date: 2008
- Runtime: 97 min
- Genre: Drama
- Starring: Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Toni Collette, Erik Thomson ... See all
- Director: Elissa Down
- Plot: All Thomas wants is a normal adolescence but his autistic brother, Charlie, thwarts his every opportunity. Will Thomas, with the help of his girlfriend, Jackie (Ward), accept his brother?
User Reviews
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Critics Reviews
| Mar 06, 2008hollywoodreporter.com
Beyond showcasing a new talent, "Black Balloon" boasts a host of naturalistic performances, including a strong turn by Toni Collette as the boys' demonstrative mother.
Down has opted for an elevating take on what could have been bleak and gritty fare, and cinematographer Denson Baker follows suit with sunny compositions shot at the height of the Australian summer.
... Full Review
| Mar 08, 2008Melbourne Herald Sun
The Black Balloon is a breath of fresh air
Someone forgot to tell former Perth filmmaker Elissa Down, who's made a cracker of a debut feature in The Black Balloon , her hilarious, heartfelt, warts-and-all account of growing up with an autistic brother.
... Full Review
wigglysocksreviews.com
However understated is the acting, and very good looking Ward is trying hard, the screenplay is unrealistic.
Luke Ford is so natural that is it amazing.
It is very realistically written and acted, with the exception of the budding love affair.
... Full Review
| Mar 06, 2008Hollywood Reporter, US
Beyond showcasing a new talent, "Black Balloon" boasts a host of naturalistic performances, including a strong turn by Toni Collette as the boys' demonstrative mother.
Down has opted for an elevating take on what could have been bleak and gritty fare, and cinematographer Denson Baker follows suit with sunny compositions shot at the height of the Australian summer.
... Full Review
| Mar 08, 2008Melbourne Herald Sun
The Black Balloon is a breath of fresh air
Someone forgot to tell former Perth filmmaker Elissa Down, who's made a cracker of a debut feature in The Black Balloon , her hilarious, heartfelt, warts-and-all account of growing up with an autistic brother.
... Full Review
News
Australia's best films ignored by public
theage.com.au –
2008-11-01
THEY are the four films nominated for Australia's most important industry award, but their combined box office takings were less than one bad American comedy. ... Full Article
AFI nominees - compete list
theage.com.au –
2008-10-29
The Black Balloon.Elissa Down The Jammed.Dee McLachlan The Square.Nash Edgerton Unfinished Sky.Peter Duncan Macquarie AFI Award for Best Original Screenplay The Black Balloon. ... Full Article
The Black Balloon , Unfinished Sky , The Square and The Jammed all have a chance of winning best film and also the best direction category at this year's 50th Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards. ... Full Article

The Black Balloon Trailer
The Black Balloon - Trailer
The Black Balloon part 4
The Black Balloon part 10


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