A Movie You Might Have Missed: The Black Balloon
Thomas(Rhys Wakefield) is trying his best to have a normal adolescence but his autistic older brother Charlie(Luke Ford) does a great job at making sure things are anything but “normal.” The wild Mollison household gets even more wild when their pregnant mother (Toni Collette) is put on bed rest. The film, written by Elissa Down and Jimmy Jack, beautifully depicts the struggles that go along with having an autistic family member. There are moments that break your heart, make you laugh and piss you off, all of which feel very real thanks to the talented cast. The Black Balloon was released in the US in December 2008 and was widely acclaimed both in Australia and in the United States, taking home 6 AFI Awards including Best Film.
