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The Black Balloon

The Black Balloon

Sometimes it's hard to be the odd one in.

20086.41h 37m

Overview

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?

Directed by Elissa Down
Written by Kelly Lefever, Duncan Thompson, Jimmy Jack
Produced by Tristram Miall
Box OfficeBudget: $5.0MRevenue: $5.0M

Top Cast

Rhys Wakefield

Rhys Wakefield

Thomas Mollison

Luke Ford

Luke Ford

Charlie Mollison

Toni Collette

Toni Collette

Maggie Mollison

Erik Thomson

Erik Thomson

Simon Mollison

Gemma Ward

Gemma Ward

Jackie Masters

S

Sarah Woods

Woman Next Door

Sam Fraser

Sam Fraser

Kid Next Door

Z

Zelie Bullen

Mother in Van

Anthony Phelan

Anthony Phelan

Mr. Masters

D

Deborah Piper

Janet-Social Worker

Themes & Keywords

sydney, australiabirthdayautismfamily dinnerswimmingfirst lovesocial serviceswoman director

About The Black Balloon

The Black Balloon is a drama film released in 2008 exploring themes of sydney, australia, birthday, autism, family dinner, swimming, first love. Directed by Elissa Down, it stars Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Toni Collette. 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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