The Black Balloon (2008)

Director:

Elissa Down

Writers:

Elissa Down (writer)
Jimmy Jack (writer)

Release Date:

6 March 2008 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

All Thomas wants is a normal adolescence but his autistic brother, Charlie, thwarts his every opportunity. Will Thomas, with the help of his girlfriend, Jackie, accept his brother? |

Plot Keywords:

Girlfriend | Autistic | Color In Title | Speedo | Short Bus

Awards:

15 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Rhys Wakefield	...	Thomas Mollison
Luke Ford	...	Charlie Mollison
Toni Collette	...	Maggie Mollison
Erik Thomson	...	Simon Mollison
Gemma Ward	...	Jackie Masters
Lloyd Allison-Young	...	James
Nathin Butler	...	Chris
Lisa Kowalski	...	Sally
Firass Dirani	...	Russell
Aaron Glenane	...	Bucko
Andy Meritakis	...	Daniel
Henry Nixon	...	Trevor
Sally Evans	...	Girl on Bus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Allison	...	Maternity Ward Husband
Jeffery Armstrong	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Robert Armstrong	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Rosemary Armstrong	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Holly Austin	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
George Badawi	...	Russell's Dad
Alexander Berlage	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
George Bountros	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Kate Box	...	Elizabeth
Oliver Brookes	...	Other Mate of Kid Next Door
Matthew Cahill	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Zoe Carides	...	Russell's Mum
Ryan Clark	...	Dean
Yure Covich	...	Maths Teacher
Indigo Cumming	...	Baby Sophie
Jennifer Cutler	...	Maternity Ward Patient
Shai de Vletter-Sont	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Paul Doyle	...	P.E. Teacher
James Duffy	...	Baby Sophie
Makirum Fahey-Leigh	...	Mate of Kid Next Door
Sofia Fedirchuk	...	Baby Sophie
Terry Flanagan	...	Teacher
Sam Fraser	...	Kid Next Door
Cameron Fyfe	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Carla Gee	...	Caroline
Andrew James	...	Teacher at Fight
Eliza Logan	...	Emergency Nurse
Martin Lynes	...	Emergency Doctor
Rebecca Massey	...	Miss Babb
James Maxwell	...	Cricket Commentator
Claire McCarthy	...	Teacher
Tyne Miller	...	Student on Bus
Toby Molineaux	...	Student Who Gets Hit
Lachlan Monaghan	...	Student on Bus
Birthe Nohrden	...	Supermarket Customer
Jared Ohlstein	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Bradley Orford	...	Neighbour
Mathew Parsons	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Elle-May Patterson	...	Kylie
Ngoc Phan	...	Teacher's Aide
Anthony Phelan	...	Mr. Masters
Deborah Piper	...	Social Worker Janet
Amy Jo Farrow Potts	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Jan Ringrose	...	Neighbour
Andrew Ryan	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Inge Sildnik	...	Supermarket Customer
Ellie Singer	...	Student on Bus
Judy Singer	...	Teacher
Edward Smith	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Kieran Smith	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Arahni Sont	...	Teacher
Millie Spencer-Brown	...	Checkout Girl
Louise Sykes	...	Maternity Nurse
Gemma Thomas	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Zelie Thompson	...	Mother in Van (as Zelie Bullen)
Jackson T. Trout	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Tom Trout	...	Student on Bus
Sinisa Vrebac	...	Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
Sarah Woods	...	Janet

Also Known As:

To mavro baloni (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content, a scene of violence, and brief strong language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:6 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bardia Parade, Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

A Bronze Medallion is an Australian Lifesaving qualification. There are 14 components that must be completed to achieve this qualification, all based around high quality swimming skills and rescue techniques.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Although the film is set in Sydney (New South Wales), the Mollison's car has a Queensland number-plate. This is not unusual given that the family has just moved into the neighbourhood. However, it would be expected that the vehicle registration would be changed to NSW and the number-plates would also be changed within six months of the move. Given the apparent timeline of the film, this would be expected to have occurred.

Quotes:

Maggie Mollison: Cheeky Monkey.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "20 to 1: Sizzling Superstars (#8.15)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Know You Now

Effective drama with autism backdrop

This film is an effective coming-of-age drama with the backdrop of autism. Erik Thomson plays a shy 16 year old who's constantly embarrassed by his severely autistic brother, an excellent Luke Ford. Toni Collette plays the pregnant mother and is solid as usual. The drama never becomes morose and there's a playful tone running through the film. Some events are predictable (like the taunting by class-mates and social awkwardness) but they are probably part and parcel of every coming of age drama. The film shows in harrowing detail what it's like to take care of someone with severe autism. Informative and worth watching.

Overall 7/10