IFC Films | Release Date:April 4, 2008 | Not Rated
Summary:A highlight at the 2007 Cannes, Toronto, and New York film festivals, Flight of the Red Balloon is the latest masterpiece from Hou Hsiao Hsien. Inspired by Albert Lamorisse's 1956 Academy Award-winning classic, Flight of the Red Balloon, Hou expands on that film's key elements--a young boy, a red balloon, and Paris--to weave an achinglyA highlight at the 2007 Cannes, Toronto, and New York film festivals, Flight of the Red Balloon is the latest masterpiece from Hou Hsiao Hsien. Inspired by Albert Lamorisse's 1956 Academy Award-winning classic, Flight of the Red Balloon, Hou expands on that film's key elements--a young boy, a red balloon, and Paris--to weave an achingly beautiful tale about the mysteries of familial bonds and the lingering effects the past has on us all. Simon, a precocious young boy, must deal with the increasing fragility of his mother, the loving yet preoccupied Suzanne. Completely immersed in her own tribulations, Suzanne hires Song, a Taiwanese film student, to help care for Simon. Together with Song, a unique extended family is formed, utterly interdependent yet lost in separate thoughts and dreams mirrored by a delicate, shiny red balloon. (IFC First Take)…Expand
This is one of the most beautiful films of this year - the juxtaposition of the balloon on hovering over Paris with the the scenes of an extended family (suzanne, simon and song) floating through the cluttered Parisian apartment space is feast of casual beauty. Hou's approach lies in This is one of the most beautiful films of this year - the juxtaposition of the balloon on hovering over Paris with the the scenes of an extended family (suzanne, simon and song) floating through the cluttered Parisian apartment space is feast of casual beauty. Hou's approach lies in the simplicity of form - colors and framing and belief in his actors and image. there is plenty of real life drama here but nothing that is in your face (no close ups). hou's is def one the best directors out there in complete control of his images and sounds.…Expand
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9
RalfioN.
Jun 29, 2008
That's a great movie for anyone who wants to become more attuned to the world we live in for almost two hours. Can't believe all the commentors and I saw the same film. It flew by.
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9
KenDo.
Jul 28, 2008
Films paced like this are not everyone's cup of tea, but this movie has a damned good reason
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4
MartinR
Jul 11, 2008
I could not bear it for more than 40 minutes and simply walked out. I don't expect all movies to have clear plot, dialogues or obvious point, but film has to entertain me or at least keep my interest to enjoy it. Otherwise I may as well watch industrial camera or simply European street I could not bear it for more than 40 minutes and simply walked out. I don't expect all movies to have clear plot, dialogues or obvious point, but film has to entertain me or at least keep my interest to enjoy it. Otherwise I may as well watch industrial camera or simply European street without any filmmaker being involved. I should have learnt my lesson with Cafe Lumiere, another agonizingly slow critically acclaimed feature of this master of standstill.…Expand
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4
AndrewT
Aug 22, 2008
As a movie a 3, as a work of art hung on a wall, 9. I can see the point and the perspective, but is the memory at issue worth the canvas?
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2
DanB
Sep 30, 2008
In a word, Dull. Two hours of watching a frazzled mother, a quiet child and his equally quiet nanny go through their day to day. The most dramatic part of the film is when a tenant who is on screen for all of five minutes is to be evicted. A film for film students, and only them, with In a word, Dull. Two hours of watching a frazzled mother, a quiet child and his equally quiet nanny go through their day to day. The most dramatic part of the film is when a tenant who is on screen for all of five minutes is to be evicted. A film for film students, and only them, with it's cracking of the fourth wall and subtle meta commentary. Supposedly the film is also about the dreams and thoughts of the three main characters, but they are never said aloud, or narrated, or even hinted at. If this film we're viewed by the deaf, they would miss nothing.…Expand
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0
PaulB.
Apr 20, 2008
Pointless, with endless scenes of pure nothingness. No plot, no character development, practically no dialogue...just the dreaded balloon floating as aimlessly as the film.