The Black Balloon (film)
The Black Balloon | |
---|---|
Cinematography | Denson Baker |
Edited by | Veronika Jenet |
Music by | Michael Yezerski |
Production company | |
Distributed by | NeoClassics Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
Budget | A$5 million |
Box office | $2,136,663[specify] |
The Black Balloon is a 2008
The film was released in Australian cinemas on 6 March 2008. The world premiere was at the
Plot
This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (February 2023) |
Thomas Mollison (
When their heavily
Jackie exhibits her interest in Thomas when she attends a CPR class at school and visits Thomas at his home to return Charlie's monkey hat that he accidentally left behind when he used Jackie's toilet. Thomas's first response is to ensure that his brother is hidden away from Jackie. However, Maggie is less than thrilled when she discovers that Thomas has locked Charlie in his bedroom. She then sees Charlie proceeding to rub his own faeces into the carpet. After Maggie attempts to clean up the floor, (despite being ordered to stay in bed) Thomas becomes frustrated and tells Maggie that Charlie is her responsibility and she slaps him after he calls him a freak. Maggie replies that Charlie will never be able to have a job, nor a family and he will be unable to look after himself. He will be more likely to remain living with his parents for the rest of his life.
This latest episode proves too much for Maggie. Her husband, Simon, insists that she spend the rest of her pregnancy in the hospital instead, leaving Thomas to become the primary caregiver for Charlie. Thomas begins to enter into Charlie's world when he rides the school bus for children with various special needs with his brother. In addition, Thomas is seen dealing with Charlie, who has a meltdown due to Simon not buying some more items at a local supermarket since he does not have enough money. This again causes severe embarrassment for Thomas. That same evening when the trio return from the supermarket, Thomas, who was annoyed by the meltdown, rips up Charlie's star chart. This causes things to become worse when the brothers fight and Charlie throws a stool through the window. The next day, when Thomas attends his swimming class, Jackie wears Charlie's monkey ears, which pleases and amuses him. When Jackie meets Charlie, she makes a concerted effort to know and understand him, as well as to use Sign Language as a means by which to communicate with him.
Thomas and his father both endeavour to care for Charlie together. Simon tells Thomas that his mother is grateful to have Charlie as a child because she feels that the family is strong enough to be able to look after him. Representatives from Youth and Community Services visit the house and state that they have received multiple complaints about Charlie. Simon is furious at his neighbour whom he attributes responsibility for the invasive visit. Thomas also displays his loyalty to his brother. Charlie accompanies Jackie and Thomas to swim in a river. When it rains, they all shelter in a nearby drainpipe where Jackie and Thomas share their first kiss. When the boys arrive home, there is a note taped to the television which states that Maggie has given birth to a girl.
When Thomas sees Charlie at his school after his school bus parks up on the same road, Charlie becomes the victim of malicious taunting and harassment. Jackie tells Thomas that he needs to quit wishing that Charlie was "normal." Tensions flare when Jackie eats a
The family and Jackie attend a musical production in Charlie's special school entitled "Animals Afloat," (a musical based on Noah's Ark) in which he portrays a monkey. After Charlie's theatrical partner, Russell, has a meltdown on stage and has a falling out with Charlie backstage, Thomas decides to fill in for Russell so that Charlie doesn't have to go on stage alone, and the brothers both don monkey costumes and give an outstanding performance. The brothers celebrate their success by taking a bubble bath together. Thomas confesses to his brother that when he was little, he used to fall asleep at night, wishing that Charlie would be normal. Charlie looks thoughtful. The film concludes with Thomas laughing and asking Charlie, "You just pissed on my leg, didn't you?" The brothers then share a laugh together.
Cast
- Rhys Wakefield as Thomas Mollison
- Luke Fordas Charlie Mollison
- Toni Collette as Maggie Mollison
- Erik Thomson as Simon Mollison
- Gemma Ward as Jackie Masters
- Lloyd Allison-Young as James
- Nathin Butler as Chris
- Lisa Kowalski as Sally
- Firass Dirani as Russell
- Sarah Woods as Janet
- Kieran Smith as Elephant No. 2
- Ryan Clark as Dean
The Animals Afloat! segment was cast from a group of teens and young adults whose lives are affected by autism and
Reception
The Black Balloon was reviewed on
Roger Ebert felt that the film's strengths lay in the structure of the piece as well as its central characters and casting. ‘The Black Balloon establishes this family with a delicate mixture of tenderness and pain. … The story elements … could have been manipulated to make the film false and cute. … The uplift comes in how the family, and Jackie, respond to Charlie. Maggie and Simon are strongly bonded in a marriage that has survived Charlie. They have no time for nobility; they are focused on doing what needs to be done. … It is Jackie who turns out to be special. … Gemma Ward, who plays her, … creates a spontaneously warm young woman. … Luke Ford's performance as Charlie is a convincing tour de force. … Rhys Wakefield, in his first feature role, is a good casting decision, suggesting inner turmoil without overacting. But it is Toni Collette who explains, without even seeming to try, why this family is still together at all.'[4]
Overall, the film received positive reviews. The first weekend of release saw The Black Balloon at number 10 on the Australian box office with an intake of $500,000. Rotten Tomatoes reported that, based on 42 reviews, 88% of them were positive.[5]
Awards
On 11 November 2008, The Black Balloon won the Best Children’s Feature Film award in the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. The award was accepted by Producer Tristram Miall and Director/Writer/Co-Producer Elissa Down.[6][7][8]
Since then, The Black Balloon has received numerous awards (and nominations) in Australia and at Film Festivals around the world:
Award | Category | Subject | Result |
---|---|---|---|
AACTA Awards (2008 AFI Awards) |
Best Film | Tristram Miall | Won |
Best Direction | Elissa Down | Won | |
Best Original Screenplay | Won | ||
Jimmy Jack
|
Won | ||
Best Actor | Rhys Wakefield | Nominated | |
Best Supporting Actor | Luke Ford | Won | |
Erik Thomson | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Actress
|
Toni Collette | Won | |
Best Cinematography | Denson Baker | Nominated | |
Best Editing | Veronika Jenet | Won | |
Best Original Music Score | Michael Yezerski | Nominated | |
Best Sound | Ben Osmo | Nominated | |
Paul Pirola | Nominated | ||
Asia Pacific Screen Award | Best Children's Feature Film | Won | |
ADG Award
|
Best Direction in a Feature Film | Elissa Down | Won |
ASE Award | Best Editing in a Feature Film | Veronika Jenet | Nominated |
Berlin International Film Festival | Crystal Bear for Best Feature Film "Generation 14plus"
|
Elissa Down | Won |
FCCA Awards | Best Film | Tristram Miall | Won |
Best Director | Elissa Down | Won | |
Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||
Jimmy Jack | Nominated | ||
Best Actor | Rhys Wakefield | Nominated | |
Best Actress | Gemma Ward | Nominated | |
Best Supporting Actor | Luke Ford | Nominated | |
Best Supporting Actress | Toni Collette | Won | |
Best Cinematography | Denson Baker | Nominated | |
Best Editing | Veronika Jenet | Nominated | |
Best Music Score | Michael Yezerski | Nominated | |
Hamptons International Film Festival | Distinguished Achievement Award for Best Female Feature Director | Elissa Down | Won |
Inside Film Awards | Box Office Achievement | Won | |
Best Feature Film | Tristram Miall | Nominated | |
Elissa Down | Nominated | ||
Best Director | Nominated | ||
Best Script | Nominated | ||
Jimmy Jack | Nominated | ||
Best Actor | Rhys Wakefield | Nominated | |
Best Actress | Gemma Ward | Nominated | |
Best Cinematography | Denson Baker | Nominated | |
Best Editing | Veronika Jenet | Nominated | |
Best Music | Michael Yezerski | Nominated | |
Best Sound | Paul Pirola | Nominated | |
Best Production Design | Nicholas McCallum | Nominated | |
Entertainment Industries Council | PRISM Award for Best Feature Film – Mental Health | Nominated | |
Screen Music Award | Best Soundtrack Album | Michael Yezerski | Won |
Best Original Song ("When We Get There") | Won | ||
Josh Pyke | Won |
Box office
The Black Balloon grossed $2,265,689 at the box office in Australia.[9]
Filming locations
Production wrapped up in 2007 (the year of its copyright notice) and filming took place in the Sydney area at the following locations:
- Holsworthy Public School
- Bardia Parade, Holsworthy
- Hawkesbury campusswimming pool
- Granville Performance Hall
- Wattamolla
Soundtrack
- "When We Get There" – Josh Pyke
- "Even" – Simon Day (Ratcat)
- "Heartbreak Hill" – Michael Yezerski
- "The Black Balloon Theme" – Michael Yezerski
- "Bath Time" / "Bullet Boy" – Michael Yezerski
- "In The Poo" / "The Bus" – Michael Yezerski
- "The Lolly" – Michael Yezerski
- "A New Game" / "Water Babies" – Michael Yezerski
- "Learning To Swim" – Michael Yezerski
- "The Kiss" – Michael Yezerski
- "The School Fight" – Michael Yezerski
- "Fall at Your Feet" – Glenn Richards (Augie March)
- "Aftermath" – Michael Yezerski
- "The Walk Home" – Michael Yezerski
- "The Greatest ACT in History" – Bert Labonte
- "Afloat! The Conga" – Claire McCarthy, Miriam Rihani, Afro Moses
"Fall at Your Feet" is a rendition of the Neil Finn (Crowded House) song. The soundtrack won 'Best Original Soundtrack' at the 2008 APRA-AGSC Screen Music Awards for Michael Yezerski,[10] with Josh Pyke winning 'Best Original Song' for "When We Get There", which he co-wrote with Yezerski.[11] Songs also featuring in the film include "Better" by
See also
- List of fictional characters on the autistic spectrum
References
- ^ CLPR (15 January 2007). "Press releases: Principal photography commences on The Black Balloon". Inside Film Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 February 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
- ^ Berlinale. "The Festival – Awards & Prizes – Prizes Generation". Retrieved 16 February 2008.
- ^ 'The Black Balloon', At the Movies [website], <http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2162605.htm>, accessed 8 January 2015.
- ^ R. Ebert, 'The Black Balloon', Roger Ebert [website], <http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-black-balloon-2009>, 4 March 2009, accessed 10 January 2015.
- ^ The Black Balloon at Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ "Ebroadcast.Com.Au, Asia Pacific Screen Awards Winners Announced". Ebroadcast.com.au. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "in.reuters.com, Kazakh comedy wins Asia-Pacific best movie award". In.reuters.com. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "theaustralian.news.com.au, Balloon Grabs Asia-Pac Screen Award". Theaustralian.news.com.au. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office Archived 18 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Black Balloon and Underbelly claim music honours". The Age. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
- ^ Shedden, Iain (4 November 2008). "Pyke gets there in Black Balloon". The Australian. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
External links
- The Black Balloon at IMDb
- The Black Balloon at Box Office Mojo
- The Black Balloon at ICON Entertainment
- The Black Balloon at Oz Movies