Balloon

2018

2h 5m

History

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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List

70%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

Two East German families try to escape to the West in a hot-air balloon in 1979.

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Critics Consensus

Balloon isn't as exciting as the real-life story that inspired it, but it remains a solidly made and often engrossing political thriller.

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Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

The fact that it's based on a true story - the closing credits include photographs of the actual families - does not make up for the amassing of red herrings, close calls, and occasions for head-scratching.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 20, 2020

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Filmmaker Herbig and his team prove to be especially adept at contriving situations where anything anyone does causes fear, anxiety, stress and worry, leaving everyone, very much including the audience, existing on the knife's edge of unremitting tension.

Mar 12, 2020

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Tomris Laffly

Variety

"Balloon" is decent entertainment to a degree, and that is mostly thanks to its handsome production values.

Feb 21, 2020

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Nick Boyd

Battle Royale With Cheese

It is a very well-acted picture (with a lot of emotion conveyed in the performances) that also effectively delves into the strains of marital and child relations, while at the same time the sacrifices we make to better the lives of our children.

Jul 24, 2020

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

It's an often taut and efficiently paced thriller intent on maximizing its potential, even if that means employing cliché to heighten suspense.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 5, 2020

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Pat Padua

The DC Line

Captures the paranoia and excitement of its time.

Feb 27, 2020

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isla s

This is quite a tense and gripping, as well as fairly claustrophobic, film. I felt sorry for the parents, trying to do the best for their kids and I could feel their frustrations too. Its pretty thought provoking - I can only imagine how it felt to live in what was then eastern Germany, if you didn't share the political views of the majority etc. The cast do a good job and the background music is just about right - not too 'in your face' or overly artificial seeming. I thought the plot pace was quite good and it certainly kept me watching throughout. I would recommend this film, yes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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aaron g

Better than "passed the time" and barely recommendable, was entertained and interested, but not sure if I'd put this on my watch again soon list

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Inaki B

If you want to learn more about what happens in Germany through the cold war, I think this movie is must see and also I believe that all the crew behind and in front the camara creates a very good film and adapt a very stressful storie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/22

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Audience Member

Loved it. Likeable relatable characters risking their lives. Great Tension. You never know who can be trusted.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

This is a tight, well-paced film that does a surprisingly good job of building and maintaining dramatic tension despite the fact that the ending is known. The characters are sympathetic and believable. I was left wanting to know more about them as fully rounded individuals, but given that this is an escape film and the main characters are intensely mission focused and under severe time pressure, I agree with the filmmakers choice to only hint about the rest of their lives. The most problematic character is the Stasi pursuer, a highly efficient investigator who seems to be fully aware that he is serving an evil regime; his motivations could have been better developed. American audiences should discover this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

There's probably a lot of artistic licensing but it's still a gripping plot and well portrayed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Michael Bully Herbig

Director

Friedrich Mücke

Peter Strelzyk

Karoline Schuch

Doris Strelzyk

Alicia von Rittberg

Petra Wetzel

David Kross

Günter Wetzel

Thomas Kretschmann

Seidel

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Balloon: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Two East German families try to escape to the West in a hot-air balloon in 1979.

Director: Michael Bully Herbig
Screenwriter: Kit Hopkins, Thilo Röscheisen
Production Co: Studio Canal, SevenPictures GmbH, herbX film GmbH
Genre: History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: German
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 9, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.0K
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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