The famous Red Balloon, winner of the 1956 Palme d’Or Cannes Award.

Posted By Fargo Reviews ~ 3rd August 2009

Every tuesday this July the Fargo Theatre showed children’s films from various countries: Japan, UK, India and this tuesday, France.  This tuesday’s offering was actually a double feature of two short films, both Cannes film festival award winners, both directed by Albert Lemonise.  Thje first, White Mane, the 1953 Cannes Best Picture award winner was filmed in black and white, as was the custom in those days.  White Mane was the leader of wild horses in a costal marsh somewhere on the French coast.  He and his herd are captured by some “herders.”  With the help of a fisherboy, White Mane escapes, is captured again, etc until Whit Mane, using his strength, carries the boy out to sea to a land where men and horses can get along.

I was with a 12 year old companion: he was a bit old for this film.  Nonetheless, it was a beautiful movie, wonderfully filmed.  I had hoped the aforementioned twelve year old would get some experience in reading subtitles, but this movie was narrated, in English in this version.

The next movie was the famous Red Balloon, winner of the 1956 Palme d’Or Cannes Award.  This was in color and subtitled, although
there isn’t much dialogue.  The story, as one can guess, is about a boy and a red balloon.  The balloon discovers the boy, and takes on a life of its own, following the boy everywhere.  I would say the boy was about 8-10.  The movie is, of course in color(how else would we know the balloon is red).  Lots of people try to get the balloon away from the boy, especially his contemporaries.  The movie follows the boy(and the balloon) as they go about their business in an unnamed French city.  I did enjoy the depiction of the public transportation, shops, open air markets, traffic, etc.   What was missing was the public urinals and dirt for which
french cities are well known.  Eventually, one of the bullies captures the balloon and stomps on it, breaking on it.  Immediately all the balloons in the city gather together, find the boy and carry him away, presumably to a land where balloons and boys can get along(same director!).

Kudos to the Fargo Theatre for bringing such culture to our children.