synopsis
One morning, on his way to school, a Parisian boy Pascal sees a big red balloon. While playing with it, he discovers that the balloon has a consciousness of its own, and he makes friends with it. The balloon follows him around like a pet. This causes other children to be jealous. While wandering around the neighborhood, the balloon is destroyed by a group of violent children. At this point, other balloons of different sizes and colors arrive from all over Paris and take Pascal for a ride in the sky.

about the director
Albert Lamorisse (Paris, 1922 – Teheran, 1970) was at first a photographer. By the end of 1940s he started directing short and medium-length films, and later on, feature films. His most successful films are: The Red Balloon (won the Golden Palm in Cannes in 1956, and the Oscar for best original script), White Mane: The Wild Horse (the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, 1953) and a feature documentary The Lover's Wind (nominated for Oscar in the category of Best Documentary Feature).

festivals and awards
The Golden Palm for the Best Short Film at the Cannes Film festival, 1956
The Oscar for the Best Original Screenplay, 1957

director's filmography
1978. Le Vent des amoureux (The Lovers' Wind)
1967. Versailles
1967. Paris jamais vu
1965. Fifi la plume (Circus Angel)
1962. Le Songe de chevaux sauvages ()
1960. Le Voyage en ballon (Stowaway in the Sky)
1956. Le Ballon rouge, (The Red Balloon)
1953. Crin blanc: Le cheval sauvage (White Mane: The Wild Horse)
1950. Bim

about the film
The director's son Pascal Lamorisse plays the main role of the boy. The Red Balloon was extremely popular with children and appreciated by educators.