The Black Balloon (film)

The Black Balloon is a 2008 Australian, comedydrama film starring Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward as well as a cast of newcomers. It is directed by firsttime feature film director, Elissa Down.

Fifteenyearold Thomas Mollison Rhys Wakefield and his family move to a new home in the early 1990s. It begins with Charlie, his autistic brother banging a wooden spoon on the grass with neighbors staring and pointing, then it cuts to the house where there are locks on the drawers and Maggie, their mother, locking star shaped stickers in her bathroom cabinet. Thomas is anxious because he has to start at a new school, and make new friends all he wants is to do is fit in and be regarded in the same way as everyone else. However, it seems he struggles to achieve this goal. Although his family appears to be a fairly happy one, Thomas often feels isolated it seems as if his mother only dotes upon his brother, Charlie Luke Ford, and does not pay any attention to him. Thomas, however, is devoted to his brother and shows affection for him. Charlie is Thomass older brother who lives with autism, as well as Attention Deficit Disorder. Charlie enjoys dressing up like a monkey, playing computer games using a Commodore 64 and receiving gold stars for good behaviour. Charlie communicates with the rest of his family by using Sign Language.When their heavily pregnant mother, Maggie, Toni Collette must take a rest owing to a recommendation by her doctor as a consequence of Maggies high blood pressure, Thomas is put in charge of Charlie. Thomas finds this task difficult and onerous. For example, when Charlie flees from the house in a highspirited mood, Thomas runs after him to ensure the safety of his brother. Thomas cannot keep up with Charlie. Matters become even more problematic when Charlie expresses the urge to go to the bathroom and enters the nearest house to use the toilet. When he does so, the brothers encounter Jackie Gemma Ward who is taking a shower. The fact that both brothers are only wearing their underwear is a source of severe embarrassment for Thomas. ........

Source: Wikipedia