The Flight of the Red Balloon

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 (CAFE, LUMIERE, THREE TIMES). Inspired by Albert Lamorisse*s 1956 Academy Award Winning classic, THE RED BALLOON, Hou expands on its key elements-a young boy, a red balloon and Paris- to weave an achingly beautiful tale on the mysteries of familial bonds and the lingering effects the past has on us all. A precious young boy, Simon (Simon Iteanu) must deal with the increasing fragility of his mother, the loving yet preoccupied Suzanne (Academy Award Winner Juliette Binoche of THE ENGLISH PATIENT, CACHE). Completely immersed in her own tribulations, Suzanne hires Song (Song Fan), 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.

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Release Date: April 4, 2008
Genre: Action-Adventure, Art, Foreign, Drama, Kids and Family
Running Time: 114 min.
Distributor(s): First Take (IFC)
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MPAA Rating:

Director(s):
Hou Hsiao-Hsien

Writer(s):
Hou Hsiao-Hsien - Screenplay
Francois Margolin - Screenplay

Producer(s):
Kristina Larsen - Producer
Francois Margolin - Producer
Mathilde Incerti - Associate Producer

Movie Casts:
Juliette Binoche - Suzanne
Simon Iteanu - Simon
Fang Song - Song
Hippolyte Girardot - Marc
Louise Margolin - Louise
Anna Sigalevitch - Anna