Film: The Black Balloon (2008)
The Black Balloon is a story about fitting, discovering love, and accepting your family. I guess all of use can relate with these common issues in life?
For one thing, its’ not easy being Thomas Mollison (Rhys Wakefield). He’s about to turn sixteen; and moving into a new house and school is lot for him. His older brother Charlie (Luke Ford) announces their arrival to the neighbors by banging a wooden spoon and wailing on the front lawn. Charlie doesn’t speak. He’s autistic and has ADD. He’s also unpredictable, sometimes unmanageable, and often disgusting. Thomas hates his brother but wishes he didn’t.
The Mollisons are an army family; but it’s not what you’d call a regimented life, or even a regular household. Thomas’ cricket-obsessed father, Simon (Erik Thomson), talks to his teddy. Simon and Maggie (Toni Collette) are openly intimate, and now Maggie is going to have another baby.
One morning, the semi-naked Charlie escapes the house and leads Thomas on a chase across the neighborhood. Charlie bursts into a stranger’s house to use the toilet; and Thomas finds himself face to face with Jackie Masters (Gemma Ward), his gawky but fascinating new classmate. The trouble is she’s in the shower.
Maggie has complications with her pregnancy and becomes bedridden. Thomas and Simon between then take on Charlie’s daily routine; and Thomas experiences the less savory aspects of coping with his brother. What he didn’t bargain for was the shit-smearing, shopping centre tantrums, and riding the Autistic School bus. It’s sink or swim; and Thomas is drowning.
The truth is he is – literally. The school swimming lessons are a nightmare, because Thomas has never got beyond doggie paddle. Then Thomas is partnered with Jackie for basic life-saving; and Jackie swims like a fish. It’s only when they get to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation that things pick-up and young love blossoms between the two—well, three, because Charlie is also entranced by the pretty girl.
Thomas’ birthday dinner turns into a nightmare. Pent-up frustrations about his brother pour out that are both confronting and ultimately heart-warming. This award winning Australian film explores what I believe illustrates the reality of families with autistic children; and how family members deal, cope and undergo everyday life. At the same time, I felt that the film was also more about how a brother grows to love his brother; accepting him for who he is; and while at the same time, finding teenage love amongst all the chaos and circumstances.
