Watch Flight of the Red Balloon

Flight of the Red Balloon is a beautiful, heartfelt movie from 2007 that tells the story of a young boy named Simon, his mother Suzanne, and the various people who come into their lives. The movie was directed by acclaimed Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien, and is a loose adaptation of the 1956 short film The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse.

The movie is set in modern-day Paris, and opens with a beautifully shot scene of a red balloon floating through the city streets. The balloon is being carried by a young boy named Simon, who is on his way to meet his mother at her workplace. Suzanne is a single mother who works as a puppeteer, and is struggling to balance her job with her responsibilities as a parent.

Throughout the movie, we see Simon interacting with various people in his life, including his babysitter, his music teacher, and a young Chinese student who is renting a room in Suzanne's apartment. As Simon navigates these relationships, we see the ways in which his innocence and imagination are both a source of joy and a cause for concern.

At the heart of the movie is the relationship between Simon and his mother. Suzanne is a loving and caring parent, but she is also distracted by the demands of her job and her own personal struggles. As the movie progresses, we see the ways in which Simon's presence in her life both grounds her and challenges her.

One of the standout performances in the movie comes from Juliette Binoche, who plays Suzanne. Binoche is a gifted actress who brings a depth and complexity to her role. She captures the nuances of a mother who loves her child deeply, but who is also conflicted about the sacrifices she must make to support him.

Another standout element of the movie is its use of music. The soundtrack was composed by Mark Lee, and features both original compositions and classical pieces by composers such as Erik Satie. The music adds a layer of richness and emotion to the already beautiful visuals, and helps to create a sense of enchantment around Simon's world.

One of the things that makes Flight of the Red Balloon so special is the way that it captures the magic and wonder of childhood. The movie is not afraid to be whimsical and imaginative, and it celebrates the ways in which children can see the world as a place of endless possibility.

At the same time, the movie is also grounded in reality. It touches on themes of loss, change, and the complexities of adult relationships. The characters in the movie feel real and authentic, and their struggles and triumphs are both relatable and moving.

Overall, Flight of the Red Balloon is a beautiful and touching movie that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. It is a celebration of childhood, a meditation on the complexities of adulthood, and a visual and emotional masterpiece that will leave you breathless.

Flight of the Red Balloon is a 2007 kids & family movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 86.