:: The Black Balloon (also includes interview with director Elissa Down)

Based on the larger-than-life past of Australian director Elissa Down, The Black Balloon journeys into the often difficult terrain of living with a disabled loved one. In this, her first feature film after a stint of short films including Pink Pyjamas, HMAS Unicorn and Samantha Stewart, aged fourteen, Down drew inspiration from life with two autistic brothers, saying there was no other story she could tell with more truth. “The Black Balloon is a metaphor for a ‘different’ childhood, filled with moments of chaos, joy and sadness”, she said. “You tend to do your autobiographical film later on after a few films, but it just naturally seemed the story to tell, because I come from a place of insight…this is the story I know and know absolutely well.”

Recent winner of The Crystal Bear for Best Feature at the Berlin Film Festival, Black Balloon wowed audiences and is destined for a similar recpetion in its' homeland. With a stellar cast including Toni Collette, Gemma Ward, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford and Erik Thomson, this backyard Sydney tale about self-acceptance of one’s own life and that of the family around them, is sure to evoke a tear and warm the heart.

Life for adolescent Thomas Morrison (Rhys Wakefield), is not all it’s cracked up to be. While most 15-year-old boys are fine-tuning their masculine attributes and causing trouble with mates, young Thomas is hiding a secret. His father is a military man, his mother is pregnant and his older brother is far from normal. Having moved into a new house and school, Thomas tries to keep his autistic older brother Charlie (masterfully portrayed by Luke Ford), and wacky parents Maggie and Simon (Collette and Thomson), from attracting too much attention.

But as fate would have it, nothing can keep this family quiet for long. A semi-clad Charlie escapes one morning, leading Thomas on a merry chase through the neighbourhood in his underwear, and into the house of pretty new classmate Jackie Masters (Gemma Ward). Shock soon turns into understanding as the two new friends find love, and support each other with the task of looking after Charlie, when Maggie’s pregnancy leaves her bedridden.

But the struggle to balance life and Charlie, leaves Thomas’ internal love/hate relationship with his brother at boiling point. His bottled emotions of anger and despair at the sacrifice of much of his own life for Charlie, catches up with him leading to disastrous consequences.

This uplifting, honestly blunt and confronting film, raises the bar on all levels. The story is simply brilliant given its personal spin. Elissa Down masterfully combines ‘documentary’ with drama to produce a movie that, in her own words, doesn’t portray autism just like the film ‘Rain Man’. “I wanted to show that most people with autism

“Growing up, I missed out on so many things that children got to do. And a lot of siblings talk about this feeling of being left out, but also, this absolute [feeling that] you love your sibling, but you hate them just as much. So there’s this tearing at the very nature of your being,” she said.

Down is therefore very satisfied with the film, which helped portray these feelings. And no-more praise could she offer, then towards Luke Ford, whose representation of her autistic brother Sean, left both herself and family marvelling. Engrossing and moving, audiences are sure to applaud Ford’s efforts, as Down herself has. Praising his dedication, Down says she was impressed at Ford’s research for the role, which included spending time with her brother. “It’s so uncanny what he’s done”, she said. “I think it is one of the best performances you’re going to see.”

Praise also runs high for model Gemma Ward, whose bright and fresh on-screen appearance, coupled with great acting skills, made her the perfect candidate for the job. Down laughs however, when recollecting other’s opinion of her choice in Ward. “People thought I was nuts! Why do you want her? Can’t you get an actress? [But] I was very taken by her. She was very natural, very generous and just loved being on set.”

Collette, Wakefield and Thomson also deserve mentions, for their down-to-earth yet impeccable talents which brought their characters to life with passion.

And while the international debut of the movie has since past, Down is looking forward to hearing what Australia has to say about her story. “It’s going to be really interesting”, she said. “[But] I’m confident…because…it’s an Australian story…it’s very universal. Everyone has families and everyone has to come to peace with who they are.”