Art Appreciation and Philosophy

Rarely has the spirit of childhood been evoked as exquisitely as in this Academy Award–winning cinematic fable, a nearly wordless fantasy with the texture of reality. On the streets of 1950s Paris, a young boy is launched on a miraculous adventure when he’s playfully pursued by a shiny red balloon that seems to have a mind of its own — until the harsh realities of the world interfere. Shot in beautifully muted Technicolor, this beguiling, deceptively simple allegory of innocence and transcendence has inspired generations of viewers to let their imaginations take flight.

"A tender, humorous drama of the ingenuousness of a child, and a poignant symbolization of dreams and the cruelty of those who puncture them..." (New York Times)

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Join the Toronto Philosophy Meetup to discuss the short film The Red Balloon (1956) written, directed, and produced by the French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse. The film is often cited as one of the greatest short films ever made and won numerous awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (the only short film to have ever done so) and the Palme d'Or for short films at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. The film's influence can be seen in the work of many later filmmakers, from Steven Spielberg to Pixar Studios.