The Black Balloon (film)

The Black Balloon

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Elissa Down
Produced by Tristram Miall
Written by Elissa Down
Jimmy Jack
Starring Rhys Wakefield
Luke Ford
Toni Collette
Erik Thomson
Gemma Ward
Music by Michael Yezerski
Cinematography Denson Baker
Edited by Veronika Jenet
Production
company
Distributed by NeoClassics Films
Release dates
  • February 9, 2008 (2008-02-09) (Berlin International Film Festival)
  • March 6, 2008 (2008-03-06) (Australia)
Running time
 97 minutes
Country Australia
Language English
Budget A$5 million
Box office $2,136,663

The Black Balloon is a 2008 Australian comedy-drama film starring Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward as well as a cast of newcomers. It is directed by first-time feature film director, Elissa Down.[1]

The film was released in Australian cinemas on 6 March 2008. The world premiere was at the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany in February 2008, where the film received a Crystal Bear as the best feature-length film in the Generation 14plus category.[2]

Plot

Fifteen-year-old Thomas Mollison (Rhys Wakefield) and his family move to a new home in the early 1990s. It begins with Charlie, his autistic brother, banging a wooden spoon on the grass with neighbors staring and pointing, then it cuts to the house where there are locks on the drawers and Maggie, their mother, locking star-shaped stickers in her bathroom cabinet. Thomas is anxious because he has to start at a new school, and make new friends - all he wants is to do is fit in and be regarded in the same way as everyone else. However, it seems he struggles to achieve this goal. Although his family appears to be a fairly happy one, Thomas often feels isolated; it seems as if his mother only dotes upon his brother, Charlie (Luke Ford), and does not pay any attention to him. Thomas, however, is devoted to his brother and shows affection for him. Charlie is Thomas's older brother who lives with autism, as well as attention deficit disorder. Charlie enjoys dressing up like a monkey, playing computer games using a Commodore 64 and receiving gold stars for good behaviour. Charlie communicates with the rest of his family by using sign language.

When their heavily pregnant mother, Maggie (Toni Collette), must take a rest owing to a recommendation by her doctor as a consequence of Maggie's high blood pressure, Thomas is put in charge of Charlie. Thomas finds this task difficult and onerous. For example, when Charlie flees from the house in a high-spirited mood, Thomas runs after him to ensure the safety of his brother. Thomas cannot keep up with Charlie. Matters become even more problematic when Charlie expresses the urge to go to the bathroom and enters the nearest house to use the toilet. When he does so, the brothers encounter Jackie (Gemma Ward) who is taking a shower. The fact that both brothers are only wearing their underwear is a source of severe embarrassment for Thomas.

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 he left when he used Jackie's toilet. Thomas's first response is to ensure that his brother is hidden away from Jackie. Maggie, however, is less than thrilled when she discovers that Thomas has locked Charlie in his bedroom, who then proceeds to rub his own faeces into the carpet. Thomas becomes frustrated and tells Maggie that Charlie is her responsibility. Maggie replies that Charlie will never be able to have a job, nor a family and will likely remain living with his parents for the rest of his life.

This latest episode proves too much for Maggie. Her husband insists that she spend the rest of her pregnancy in the hospital, leaving Thomas to become the primary caregiver for Charlie. Thomas begins to enter into Charlie's world when he rides the bus for children with various disabilities with his brother along with dealing with Charlie when he has a meltdown due to Simon not buying some 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 endeavour to care for Charlie. 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 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, 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 roast dinner with the family in order to celebrate Thomas's sixteenth birthday. Jackie wonders whether or not Charlie will ever speak again. Thomas is confident that Charlie will if everyone will stop communicating with him using Sign Language. When Charlie begins masturbating at the table, causing Jackie to become extremely uncomfortable, Thomas becomes irate and smashes Charlie's Super NES console, leading to a fight between the brothers. After a physical altercation between the two brothers, Maggie exhibits sympathy for both of her sons. In spite of his mother's commiseration, Thomas still feels as if he behaved badly. In the morning, Thomas joins Charlie in his morning activity: sitting in the backyard while banging a wooden spoon on the ground.

The family attend a school musical production entitled Animals Afloat, in which Charlie portrays a monkey. After Charlie's theatrical partner, Russell, has a meltdown on stage, Thomas and Charlie 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

The Afloat! segment was cast from a group of teens and young adults whose lives are affected by autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Some of the Afloat! cast have high-functioning autism themselves, others were their siblings. This reflected the "two by two" nature of the Noah's Ark theme as well as continued the theme of siblings working together and loving one another. As you watch, you cannot tell who has autism and who does not.

Reception

The Black Balloon was reviewed on At the Movies, with Margaret Pomeranz, giving it four out of five stars, hailing it as ‘such a strong film.’ She praised the acting of the principal cast, saying that the ‘role of Thomas is a knife-edge one, it could so easily be made unsympathetic, but Rhys Wakefield makes us empathise with Thomas’s agonies, and Luke Ford makes Charlie both loveable and exasperating, another big achievement. But towering over the film is the performance of Toni Collette, she is just so good in every role she takes on, and Erik Thomson gives solid support as Simon. Model turned actress Gemma Ward steps up to the plate. … It’s a very auspicious debut’ for director Elissa Down. Co-presenter David Stratton agreed, giving the film four-and-a-half stars, and added that ‘it's so beautifully played. … Gemma Ward is wonderful too. … [Her character] Jackie's such a generous, sympathetic person who embraces her boyfriend's brother as well as the boyfriend.’[3]

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 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:

Soundtrack

  1. "When We Get There" – Josh Pyke
  2. "Even" – Simon Day (Ratcat)
  3. "Heartbreak Hill" – Michael Yezerski
  4. "The Black Balloon Theme" – Michael Yezerski
  5. "Bath Time" / "Bullet Boy" – Michael Yezerski
  6. "In The Poo" / "The Bus" – Michael Yezerski
  7. "The Lolly" – Michael Yezerski
  8. "A New Game" / "Water Babies" – Michael Yezerski
  9. "Learning To Swim" – Michael Yezerski
  10. "The Kiss" – Michael Yezerski
  11. "The School Fight" – Michael Yezerski
  12. "Fall at Your Feet" – Glenn Richards (Augie March)
  13. "Aftermath" – Michael Yezerski
  14. "The Walk Home" – Michael Yezerski
  15. "The Greatest ACT in History" – David Campbell, Bert Labonte
  16. "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 The Screaming Jets, "Don't Go Now" by Ratcat, "Streets of Your Town" by The Go Betweens, "Know You Know" by The Someloves and Jimmy Barnes' "Driving Wheels".

See also

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ Berlinale. "The Festival – Awards & Prizes – Prizes Generation". Retrieved 16 February 2008.
  3. ↑ ’The Black Balloon’, At the Movies [website], <http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2162605.htm>, accessed 8 January 2015.
  4. ↑ R. Ebert, ‘The Black Balloon’, Roger Ebert [website], <http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-black-balloon-2009>, 4 March 2009, accessed 10 January 2015.
  5. ↑ The Black Balloon at Rotten Tomatoes
  6. ↑ "Ebroadcast.Com.Au, Asia Pacific Screen Awards Winners Announced". Ebroadcast.com.au. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  7. ↑ "in.reuters.com, Kazakh comedy wins Asia-Pacific best movie award". In.reuters.com. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  8. ↑ 12 November 2008 12:00AM (12 November 2008). "theaustralian.news.com.au, Balloon Grabs Asia-Pac Screen Award". Theaustralian.news.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  9. ↑ Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office Archived 18 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ "The Black Balloon and Underbelly claim music honours". The Age. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  11. ↑ Shedden, Iain (4 November 2008). "Pyke gets there in Black Balloon". The Australian. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
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