The Black Balloon, an award winning Australian film, is a little independent gem about two brothers in a family with a very pregnant mother (Toni Collette) and a military father (Erik Thomson). They have just moved into a new home. The youngest brother Thomas (Rhys Wakefield) is a kind, handsome teenager while the other brother Charlie (Luke Ford) is slightly older but autistic.
Thomas is a new student in High School and wants to fit in. Charlie embarrasses Thomas.
The movie is about the relationship between these two brothers, but it underscores how it affects Thomas, played realistically and brilliantly by Wakefield.
The fact that the family moves so much causes most of the family problems. If they stayed in one community to adjust as an entity, everything would be far easier for everyone even the neighbors.
Thomas meets a beautiful girl named Jackie (Gemma Ward) played innocently, but with a perspective that is refreshing for Thomas. They begin a relationship.
Jackie cares and understands about the two brothers. She is drawn to Thomas’ family even though they are not a normal family. She has no real family life. All she has is her father who is rarely around. Jackie wants to fit in with Thomas’ family even though the undercurrent of Charlie’s autistic weighs Thomas and her relationship down.
The movie is by no means an upbeat movie. Yet it is a well-made movie. Every scene is needed in the film. The story is true to heart as the director, Elissa Down, keeps the pace of the film tense and edgy.
The Black Balloon won several awards including the Best Feature Film at the International Berlin Film Festival. For more information about the film visit The Black Balloon official website.
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