Flight of the Red Balloon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flight of the Red Balloon |
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©BAC Films 2007
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| Directed by | Hou Hsiao-hsien |
| Produced by | Kristina Larsen François Margolin |
| Written by | Hou Hsiao-hsien François Margolin |
| Starring | Juliette Binoche Hippolyte Girardot |
| Cinematography | Pin Bing Lee |
| Editing by | Jean-Christophe Hym Ching-Song Liao |
| Release date(s) | May 17, 2007 (Cannes Film Festival) January 30, 2008 (France) |
| Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | France Taiwan |
| Language | French |
Flight of the Red Balloon (French: Le voyage du ballon rouge) is a 2007 film from France and Taiwan. It was directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien. This movie was the first in a new series of films made by the Musée d'Orsay.
The story shows a French family through the eyes of a student from China. The film was shot in Paris during August and September 2006. This was the first time director Hou Hsiao-hsien made a film outside of Asia. The movie also pays tribute to a famous short film from 1956, The Red Balloon, directed by Albert Lamorisse.
The film first showed at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007. It opened the "Un Certain Regard" section there.
The Story of the Red Balloon
Suzanne is a puppeteer who lives in Paris. She lives with her young son, Simon, in an apartment. Suzanne is very busy creating a new puppet play. This play is based on an old Chinese story.
Because she is so busy, Suzanne hires a Chinese film student named Song. Song becomes Simon's new nanny. For a college project, Song decides to film Simon. Her project is a tribute to the famous 1956 film The Red Balloon.
Song quickly becomes good friends with both Suzanne and Simon. She even helps Suzanne by translating for a special class. This class is taught by a Chinese puppet master.
Simon has an older sister named Louise. Louise is about to finish high school in Brussels. Suzanne hopes Louise will go to college in Paris. To make space for Louise, Suzanne tries to sort out her apartment.
Simon's father, Pierre, is in Canada writing a book. He has been away for two years and does not often get in touch. Simon goes on a school trip to the Musée d'Orsay. There, his class sees a painting called The Ball by Félix Vallotton. This painting shows a child chasing a red ball.
Main Characters
- Juliette Binoche as Suzanne
- Simon Iteanu as Simon
- Hippolyte Girardot as Marc
- Fang Song as Song
- Louise Margolin as Louise
- Anna Sigalevitch as Anna
- Charles-Edouard Renault as Lorenzo
- Li Chuan-Zan (李傳燦, son of Li Tian-Lu) as the puppet master
See also
- In Spanish: El vuelo del globo rojo para niños
