The Black Balloon

Story

Synopsis

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?

Director

Elissa Down

Writers

Kelly Lefever, Elissa Down, Duncan Thompson

Language

English

Country

Australia, United States of America

Release date

8 March 2008

Budget

$5,000,000

Box office

$5,000,000

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Rhys Wakefield

  Thomas Mollison

• 

  Luke Ford

  Charlie Mollison

• 

  Toni Collette

  Maggie Mollison

• 

  Erik Thomson

  Simon Mollison

• 

  Gemma Ward

  Jackie Masters

• Sarah Woods

  Woman Next Door

• 

  Sam Fraser

  Kid Next Door

• Zelie Bullen

  Mother in Van

• 

  Anthony Phelan

  Mr. Masters

• Deborah Piper

  Janet-Social Worker

• 

  Henry Nixon

  Trevor-Social Worker

• 

  Rebecca Massey

  Miss Babb