As he walked away with this red balloon in hand, I was suddenly struck with the remembrance of my own days of elementary school, when my teacher would show us movies from time to time. For some reason or other she’d gotten the movie, The Red Balloon. It is a story – told mostly without dialogue – about a boy named Pascal and a balloon he rescues one day.
The movie focuses on the friendship forged between this young boy and a red balloon. I was so impacted by this film that I remember wanting a red balloon of my own after seeing it.
Fast-forward to a dozen years later when I’d be teaching a summer camp of energetic seven and eight year-old kids, and talking with them about the importance of good friends and being kind to those who were different. I remember each of them wanting – after seeing the movie – a red balloon of their very own. Having already thought of this, I went into the back room of the center and brought out the dozen red helium balloons, which I tied to each of their back jeans belt loops, stressing the importance of friendship and kindness. Then, for the remainder of the day, each and every child had a red balloon of their own which followed them everywhere they went.
It was amazing to see how differently they acted.
It's amazing to see how something as simple as a red balloon can change someone's behavior.
Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? Please feel free to include a link to the image in the comments section if you did.
Oh, and just if you were interested, you can view the original Albert Lamorisse film, The Red Balloon, HERE or a trailer for the 2007 remake (which I just discovered existed, watched most of, and didn't like nearly as much), The Flight of the Red Balloon, by Hou Hsiao Hsien HERE. From the trailer you will be able to link to the full film if you're interested in watching it.
22 comments:
I saw that movie too, and I remember feeling deeply for the boy and his balloon.
Love this post!
What an amazing shot. Composition, lighting...WOW! I wrote a post a few weeks back about a balloon my Dad gave me when I was 12 that I have never forgotton. This shot reminds me of that!
Love this picture and the story.
WOW...love the light. So beautiful!
That movie sounds so good.
Great shot...
I remember that movie. It seems like we watched it every year in elementary school. I wonder why.
Love the picture. It was a great idea to bring the balloons.
Nice capture!
great shot! love the light!
patty@www.findingserendipity.com
That really is interesting. Great shot!
This Red Balloon video, it would be appropriate to show first graders, yes?? Thinking I could base a whole unit on this one concept.
That is a great story! I love the photograph. The light is beautiful! :)
What a great reminder! I know there are days when I need my own red balloon to keep me on track ...
Loved the picture.
(Picture that made me smile this week - more for the context of the situation than the composition of the photo.... http://mindymusing.blogspot.com/2011/07/three-geese-laying.html )
Oh my goodness, thank you for posting this! What a blast from the past! I remember watching this movie several times in elementary school, in California in the 70's...as early as 1st grade. Have you ever seen a shinier, rounder, redder balloon than the one in that movie? I haven't. I have judged all of them by this standard the rest of my life and they've all fallen short, lol!
I remember watching that movie in a college art class. Great photo!
The minute I saw the picture it reminded me of that movie "The Red Balloon'. I have not seen it in decades!
Great picture and thanks for the memory!
I absolutely love the picture and your story. Fantastic.
Love it! :)
Here's mine..."Splash Park Smiles":
http://lilmommyfoofoo.blogspot.com/2011/07/weekly-kodachrome-splash-park-smiles.html
I loved the Red Balloon movie. We once had a funeral for a balloon that popped.
Fantastic capture!
Amazing how a simple picture can transport you.
I had just lost my hearing suddenly. I was newly deaf and all the films shown at school were a jumble of foreign words.
Except this one.
I watched in rapt attention as I sat and enjoyed the full experience of not needing to hear to understand.
Loved it then.
Watched it now, and love it still.
Thank you.
I used to love that movie. I'd get so excited every year when we watched it in school. I haven't seen it in probably 20 years, but now I think I'm going to have to look for it.
That shot is a definite keeper! Everyone is right- the light is perfect.
You are great!
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