Flight of the Red Balloon

Single mother Suzanne (Juliette Binoche) is the ideal playmate for her children, Simon and Louise. She is a puppeteer whose talents bring to life characters she creates. But she is overwhelmed by obligations. Raising the children since her husband left, teaching classes, and being involved in a court case leaves her very little time for her children or for herself. So Suzanne hires a young Taiwanese babysitter, Song Fang, to help care for the children. Soon Song Fang and Simon are sharing an imaginary world and adventures… accompanied by a red balloon. Simon first makes acquaintance with the balloon outside a subway stop where he tries to lure it down from the sky. The balloon has a will of its own, flying away over the Paris rooftops. But soon, the balloon is a companion, floating and following them throughout the Paris city streets. Song Fang becomes more important to the family as she teaches them the value of the simple pleasures of childhood and a less chaotic life. Contemplative and poetic, FLIGHT OF THE RED BALLOON is adapted from the much-loved 1956 French Film, “The Red Balloon”, by Albert Lamorisse. (In French with English subtitles) – CCP