Watch The Balloon

The Balloon is a Japanese film from 1956, directed by Kon Ichikawa and based on the novel by Romain Gary. The movie is set in 1944, during the latter part of World War II. The story revolves around a family who lives in a small town in Japan, where they run a small business selling books and paper. The father of the family, Shohei (Masayuki Mori), is an intellectual who enjoys reading and talking about philosophy. He is married to a woman named Fumiko (Mie Kitahara), who is supportive of her husband but feels somewhat trapped in their small town.

The movie begins with Shohei and his two sons, Hajime (Tatsuya Mihashi) and Michio, discussing a plan to launch a balloon into the stratosphere. The idea is to use the balloon to collect data and raise awareness about the war effort. Hajime, who is a student at the local university, is particularly excited about the project and takes charge of organizing the launch. The family works together to build the balloon and prepare for the launch, which is scheduled for a few days later.

As the launch approaches, the family's excitement is tempered by the realities of the war. They begin to hear rumors about the Allies dropping bombs on Japanese cities, and they start to worry about their own safety. The town they live in is small and relatively isolated, but they fear that they could still become a target. At the same time, they are also concerned about the impact that the war is having on Japan as a whole. They worry about the future of Japanese culture and the loss of life that is occurring on both sides of the conflict.

The day of the launch arrives, and the family makes final preparations. They take the balloon to a field outside of town and begin inflating it. As they work, they are interrupted by soldiers who are patrolling the area. The soldiers are suspicious of the family's activities and demand to know what they are doing. Hajime tries to explain the purpose of the balloon, but the soldiers are skeptical and threaten to arrest them. Shohei steps forward and engages the soldiers in a philosophical discussion about the nature of war and the importance of dialogue. His words have a powerful impact on the soldiers, and they eventually allow the family to proceed with the launch.

The balloon rises into the air, carrying with it the family's hopes and dreams. As it ascends, it gathers data about the environment and cosmic rays, just as they had hoped it would. But the family soon realizes that the balloon has become caught in the jet stream and is now about to cross over into enemy territory. They frantically try to reel in the balloon, but the wind is too strong. They watch helplessly as the balloon disappears from view.

The rest of the movie follows the family as they come to terms with the loss of the balloon and the realization that they have potentially endangered themselves and their community. They struggle with feelings of guilt, fear, and regret, but they also find comfort in each other and in their shared belief in the power of knowledge and communication. Though the war continues to rage on, the family remains committed to their pursuit of truth and understanding.

The Balloon is a poignant and thought-provoking film that explores themes of war, family, and the human quest for knowledge. The performances by the three leads are exceptional, particularly Mori's portrayal of the wise and philosophical Shohei. The movie's visuals are also quite striking, with beautiful shots of the balloon floating against the sky and the Japanese countryside. Overall, The Balloon is a powerful meditation on the human condition in times of conflict, and it remains relevant and meaningful to this day.