Synopsis
Thomas is turning 16. His dad's in the army and they've just moved to a town in New South Wales; his mom is pregnant; his older brother, Charlie, who's autistic, has his own adolescent sexual issues. Thomas finds Charlie an embarrassment in public, so when Thomas is attracted to Jackie, a girl in his swim class, Charlie presents any number of obstacles when she drops by their house, when the three of them go for a walk, and during a family birthday dinner. Can Thomas find a way to enter the world of teen romance and still be his brother's keeper, or is Charlie's disability going to prove more than Thomas can handle?
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Cast
- Rhys WakefieldThomas Mollison
- Luke FordCharlie Mollison
- Toni ColletteMaggie Mollison
- Erik ThomsonSimon Mollison
- Gemma WardJackie Masters
- Sarah WoodsWoman Next Door
- Sam FraserKid Next Door
- Zelie BullenMother in Van
- Anthony PhelanMr. Masters
- Deborah PiperJanet-Social Worker
Recommendations
- 80
Los Angeles Times
For the most part, this unblinking family drama packs a visceral punch. Thomas' journey toward acceptance is blessedly free of noble lessons and filled with real people. - 75
New York Post
Doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties faced by this family, but this small gem has a very satisfying ending. - 75
Chicago Sun-Times
Luke Ford's performance as Charlie is a convincing tour de force. You may recall him as Brendan Fraser's heroic son in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." Rhys Wakefield, in his first feature role, is a good casting decision, suggesting inner turmoil without overacting. - 75
Chicago Tribune
At its sharpest Elissa Down's feature directorial debut is guided by intense, rough-edged emotional swings that feel authentically alive, even when the script settles for tidiness. - 70
The Hollywood Reporter
Much has been made of supermodel Gemma Ward's doll-like features, but there's nothing plastic about her debut performance in the charming Australian indie The Black Balloon. - 70
Variety
Collette acts as an anchor for the ensemble, but the young leads credibly hold their own onscreen. - 70
Village Voice
Within its resolutely mainstream parameters, The Black Balloon courses with a firsthand feel for languorous Aussie summers, the shifting scales of love and hate in sibling relationships, and the earned wit that helps families cope with difficult situations. - 70
The New York Times
Ms. Collette’s Maggie is the film's prime mover. This wonderful Australian actress, who hasn't a shred of vanity, virtually disappears into the complicated characters she plays, and Maggie is one of the strongest.
