IMDb > The Black Balloon (2008)
The Black Balloon
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The Black Balloon (2008) More at IMDbPro »

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The Black Balloon (2008) -- 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?
The Black Balloon (2008) -- 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?
The Black Balloon (2008) -- kino-zeit.de - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   2,115 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Elissa Down
Writers:
Elissa Down (writer)
Jimmy Jack (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Black Balloon on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 March 2008 (Australia) more
Genre:
Drama more
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, accept his brother? | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
15 wins & 23 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(14 articles)
'Rachel Getting Married' Sweeps 2009 Prism Awards in Film
 (From Aceshowbiz. 23 April 2009, 11:34 PM, PDT)
Movie Review: The Black Balloon
 (From MovieRetriever. 5 March 2009, 10:29 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A brilliant debut more (20 total)

Cast

  (in credits order)

Rhys Wakefield ... Thomas Mollison

Luke Ford ... Charlie Mollison

Toni Collette ... Maggie Mollison

Erik Thomson ... Simon Mollison
Gemma Ward ... Jackie Masters

Sarah Woods ... Woman Next Door
Sam Fraser ... Kid Next Door
Makirum Fahey-Leigh ... Mate of Kid Next Door
Oliver Brookes ... Other Mate of Kid Next Door
Jan Ringrose ... Neighbour
Bradley Orford ... Neighbour
Andy Meritakis ... Daniel
Henry Nixon ... Trevor
Anthony Phelan ... Mr. Masters
Deborah Piper ... Janet - Social Worker
Jim Maxwell ... Cricket Commentator (voice) (as James Maxwell)
Rebecca Massey ... Miss Babb
Ryan Clark ... Dean

Aaron Glenane ... Bucko

Lisa Kowalski ... Sally
Lloyd Allison-Young ... James

Nathin Butler ... Chris
Elle-May Patterson ... Kylie
Carla Gee ... Caroline
Toby Molineaux ... Student Who Gets Hit
Yure Covich ... Maths Teacher

Firass Dirani ... Russell
Sally Evans ... Girl on Bus
Kate Box ... Elizabeth
Zoe Carides ... Russell's Mum
George Badawi ... Russell's Dad
Jeffery Armstrong ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Robert Armstrong ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Rosemary Armstrong ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Holly Austin ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Alexander Berlage ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
George Bountros ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Matthew Cahill ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Cameron Fyfe ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Jared Ohlstein ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Mathew Parsons ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Amy Jo Farrow Potts ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Andrew Ryan ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Ellie Singer ... Student on Bus
Edward Smith ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Kieran Smith ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Gemma Thomas ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Jackson T. Trout ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
Tom Trout ... Student on Bus
Shai de Vletter-Sont ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Sinisa Vrebac ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Arahni Sont ... Teacher
Claire McCarthy ... Teacher
Judy Singer ... Teacher
Terry Flanagan ... Bus Driver
Inge Sildnik ... Supermarket Customer
Birthe Nohrden ... Supermarket Customer
Jennifer Cutler ... Maternity Ward Patient
Michael Allison ... Maternity Ward Husband
Martin Lynes ... Emergency Doctor
Eliza Logan ... Emergency Nurse
Sofia Fedirchuk ... Baby Sophie
Indigo Cumming ... Baby Sophie
James Duffy ... Baby Sophie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Doyle ... P.E. Teacher
Terry Flanagan ... Teacher
James Maxwell ... Cricket Commentator

Claire McCarthy ... Teacher
Tyne Miller ... Student on Bus
Lachlan Monaghan ... Student on Bus
Ngoc Phan ... Teacher's Aide
Andrew Ryan ... Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Millie Spencer-Brown ... Checkout Girl

Louise Sykes ... Maternity Nurse
Zelie Thompson ... Mother in Van (as Zelie Bullen)
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Directed by
Elissa Down 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Elissa Down  writer
Jimmy Jack  writer (as Jimmy The Exploder)

Produced by
Sally Chesher .... executive producer
Toni Collette .... executive producer
Jimmy Jack .... co-producer
Tristram Miall .... producer
 
Original Music by
Michael Yezerski 
 
Cinematography by
Denson Baker 
 
Film Editing by
Veronika Jenet 
 
Casting by
Nikki Barrett 
 
Production Design by
Nicholas McCallum 
 
Art Direction by
Matthew Putland 
 
Set Decoration by
Jodie Whetter 
 
Costume Design by
Claire Granville 
 
Makeup Department
Kate Birch .... hair stylist
Kate Birch .... makeup artist
Lara Jade .... hair stylist
Lara Jade .... makeup artist
Wizzy Molineaux .... makeup designer
 
Production Management
Colleen Clarke .... post-production supervisor
Sue MacKay .... production manager
Peter Vertzagias .... assistant unit manager
Cameron Wintour .... unit manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jane Griffin .... second assistant director
Nick Heygate .... third assistant director
Hamish Roxburgh .... assistant director
Eddie Thorne .... assistant director
Mark Turnbull .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Chris Harris .... art department assistant
Renee Hoare .... set dresser
Ingrid Weir .... art department graphics
Dillon Yeats .... stand-by props
 
Sound Department
Yulia Akerholt .... dialogue editor
Steve Burgess .... sound effects editor
Leah Katz .... adr editor
Michael McMenomy .... adr engineer
Ben Osmo .... sound recordist
Andrew Parsons .... second boom operator
Paul Pirola .... sound designer
Paul Pirola .... sound re-recording mixer
Mark Van Kool .... boom operator
Andy Wright .... adr recordist
 
Special Effects by
Dave Roberts .... special effects coordinator
 
Visual Effects by
Lindsay Adams .... lead compositor
Morgane Furio .... visual effects supervisor
Matt Greig .... digital compositor: Animal Logic
Jason Hawkins .... digital compositor: Animal Logic
Edwina Hayes .... senior visual effects producer
Jayne Herrmann .... visual effects producer: Animal Logic
Julien Leveugle .... digital compositor: Animal Logic
Jamie Wood .... digital compositor
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Simon Cardwell .... still photographer
Simon Chapman .... director of photography: second unit
Drew English .... clapper loader
Peter Giuliani .... electrician
Pim Kulk .... clapper loader
Jules O'Loughlin .... additional cinematographer: second unit
Alby Orellana .... focus puller
Scott Parsons .... grip
Justin Plummer .... best boy
Mark Rogers .... still photographer
Jay Torta .... focus puller: "b" camera
Jason Trew .... key grip
Topul 'Willy' Villami .... grip
Simon Williams .... gaffer
 
Casting Department
Dex Tallo .... extras casting
 
Editorial Department
Trish Cahill .... digital intermediate colorist
Heather Galvin .... on-line editor
Katherine Heads .... post-production facilities coordinator
Maria Kaltenthaler .... assistant editor
Justin Ngy Tran .... digital intermediate supervisor
 
Music Department
Laura Bishop .... music preparation
James K. Lee .... music preparation
Claire McCarthy .... musician
Norman Parkhill .... music supervisor
Jessica Wells .... music preparation
 
Transportation Department
Michael Horvath .... driver: cast
Matt Worth .... vehicle consultant
 
Other crew
Tobias Andersson .... production runner
Jeremy Atcliffe .... production accountant
Carl Blacklidge .... boat wrangler
Brian Carpenter .... unit assistant
Mathew Harrington .... production runner
Melissa Hayward .... script supervisor
Michael Horvath .... production runner
Linda Jefferys .... unit nurse
David Lawrance .... laboratory liaison
Kelly Lefever .... script editor
Claire McCarthy .... choreographer
Jayne Montague .... misc crew
Annelies Norland .... location manager
Anika Valenti .... production secretary
Kelly Vincent .... production coordinator
 
Thanks
Veronica Gleeson .... special thanks
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content, a scene of violence, and brief strong language.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Australia | UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
Australia:M | USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:6 | UK:15
Filming Locations:
Bardia Parade, Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia more
Company:
Australian Film Commission, The more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
At the river, Jackie says "Kieren Perkins, watch out!". Kieren Perkins is an Australian swimmer who won Gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and a Silver medal at the 2000 Olympics, swimming in the 1500 metre event. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Although the film is set in Sydney (New South Wales), the Mollison's car has a Queensland number-plate. This is not unusual given that the family has just moved into the neighbourhood. However, it would be expected that the vehicle registration would be changed to NSW and the number-plates would also be changed within six months of the move. Given the apparent timeline of the film, this would be expected to have occurred. more
Quotes:
Maggie Mollison: Your brother will never be able to do the things you can Thomas, He will live with us for the rest of his life. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "20 to 1: Sizzling Superstars (#8.15)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Afloat! The Greatest more

FAQ

Where is this movie set?
What does SCAB stand for?
What is this movie about?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
14 out of 21 people found the following comment useful.
A brilliant debut, 5 March 2008
9/10
Author: deax40 from Australia

Elissa Down has used her personal experience of growing up with two autistic brothers, one of whom she describes as a "Rainman" character, and the other the inspiration for Charlie, the autistic and ADHD-afflicted brother of Thomas. The story is touching, sometimes side-splittingly funny, sometimes tragically upsetting, but ultimately uplifting. There isn't a weak performance, and as usual Toni Collette gives a believable portrayal of a mother whose strength holds her family together. Luke Ford is amazing as Charlie, reminiscent of Leonardo Di Caprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" It's good to see an Australian film that tackles such a difficult subject, and does so brilliantly.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Black Balloon (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Gemma Ward Performance kuba_1980
Unrealistic Scenes sunbatt50
In what decade was this film set? kite33
Why It's Bad [spoilers] willywilly
How old was Charlie supposed to be? vinylfish
Anyone got the soundtrack? Biggest_Loser
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