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IMDb > The Black Balloon (2008)

The Black Balloon (2008)

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User Rating: 8.0/10 (357 votes)

Overview

Director:
Elissa Down
Writers:
Elissa Down (writer)
Jimmy Jack (writer)
Release Date:
6 March 2008 (Australia) more
Genre:
Drama
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? | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
User Comments:
Life is neither fair nor easy more

Cast

 (Credited cast)

Rhys Wakefield ... Thomas Mollison

Luke Ford ... Charlie Mollison

Toni Collette ... Maggie Mollison

Erik Thomson ... Simon Mollison
Gemma Ward ... Jackie Masters
Lloyd Allison-Young ... James

Nathin Butler ... Chris

Lisa Kowalski ... Sally
Firass Dirani ... Russell
Aaron Glennane ... Bucko
Andy Meritakis ... Daniel
Henry Nixon ... Trevor
Sally Evans ... Girl on Bus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kate Box ... Elizabeth
Sofia Fedirchuk ... Baby Sophie
Elle-May Patterson ... Kylie
Ngoc Phan ... Teacher's Aide
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
Germany:97 min (Berlin International Film Festival) | Australia:97 min
Country:
Australia
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 16% since last week why?

FAQ

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful:-
Life is neither fair nor easy, 11 April 2008
8/10
Author: Pascal Zinken (LazySod) from Maastricht, The Netherlands

Life isn't easy for Thomas. Living as the younger brother in a family of four, with a fifth on the way is hard enough to begin with. It's even worse when the older brother is severely autistic and unable to care for himself in any way. So, quite naturally, Thomas struggles with growing up.

Films dealing with family lives like this only work when they show all the sides to a story and this one does it well. All the members of the family are properly introduced and their interaction is done well enough to give the impression that it is a perfectly normal family, which has a specific difficulty added to it.

The complexities of living with a mentally handicapped person are brought out well enough without ever being overly sentimental and, as far as I know from the interaction I have had with several autistic people, real enough.

All in all it is a real good film about growing up and growing up with a tremendous challenge making it harder on you. I loved it, and even more so because I know what Thomas went through from personal experience.

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Message Boards

Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for The Black Balloon (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Luke Ford deserves awards for her performance! tim_kroenert
DVD Release? philnita
Budget jazzpiano-
A quality film tomas_ernst
In what decade was this film set? kite33
Gemma Ward Performance kuba_1980
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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb Australia section Add this title to MyMovies

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