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`Understanding the difficulties of a situation as complex as having a sibling or child with a disability is somewhat troublesome. Greater still is the grueling task of conveying such complexities through an artistic medium.
In her 2008 film “The Black Balloon,” director Elissa Down takes on the challenge. Through subtleties in cinematography, dialogue, and acting, she skillfully manages to take what can be a cluttered mess of a situation and translates it into an emotional experience one can relate to.
In the opening of the film, the audience is introduced to Thomas Mollison (Rhys Wakefield), an average 15-year-old facing average 15-year-old issues: Life as the new kid in school, embarrassment at his inadequacies in gym class, pining for the alluring dream girl, (Gemma Ward). However, there are some other, not so average problems: Thomas’ older brother Charlie (Luke Ford) is autistic.
Autism, according to the Autism Society of America, is a “complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.” It can be defined by a resistance to change, laughing or crying for no apparent reason, tantrums, non-response to verbal cues despite normal hearing, uneven gross or fine motor skills, and, most prevalently, a difficulty expressing needs and communicating with others.
Modern statistics indicate that autism occurs in one in one hundred births and is four times as prevalent in boys as it is in girls. Extrapolations from the U.S. Department of Education suggest that the frequency of the disease could reach up to four million Americans by the end of the decade. While autism is not curable, early diagnosis is critical and can result in a dramatically better outcome for the child.
For many, comprehending the intricacy of such a disorder and its effects, both on those with the disease and on their family members, is easier said than done. That is why films such as “The Black Balloon” are made, so that they might encourage understanding.
Dr. Thomas Neuville, professor of Special Education at Millersville, warns against seeing such a film without a strong basis of awareness.
“I would show [the film] only with a discussion,” Neuville said. “I cringed through the whole thing. There were times I wanted to turn it off. I didn’t want people to go away thinking of people with autism as a group. It de-individualizes their humanity.”
It is a common mistake to group those with developmental disabilities together as a whole, to forget that they are individuals with their own preferences, idiosyncrasies, and habits just like everyone else.
Throughout the film, Charlie is characterized by the outside world, and even by his own family as a “spastic.” He is visually separated from those who are normal by the monkey hat he always wears.
While it is seemingly just a funny hat that has a usually comedic effect, it comes to symbolize much more as the story goes on.
After his pregnant mother (Toni Collette) is put on bed-rest, Thomas must take on the responsibilities of caring for Charlie; this leads to an arduous exploration of his love and resentment for his brother. He hates that his life can’t be normal, and yet he still does what he must to help Charlie. It is only when Thomas dons his own monkey hat to accompany his brother in his school performance that he fully grasps his brother’s humanity. It helps him truly accept Charlie as a person and not just a freak who needs constant supervision.
Dr. Neuville asserts that, at least partly, Charlie is used as a prop in the film. “This isn’t the person, this is the place we’ve put him; we gave him the monkey hat,” he said.
“It’s hard to express when you stop seeing people with disabilities as a group versus as individuals,” Neuville said. “It wasn’t until I stopped trying to classify [those I knew] with disabilities as a group that I broke through the barrier, so to speak.”
This film does not just try to break a barrier; it tries to destroy typical societal reactions and perceptions of such disorders.
There are moments in this movie that are just painful to watch. In one scene, Charlie throws a tantrum in the grocery store when some groceries need to be put back, upon dad (Erik Thomson) not having enough money. As everyone stares in shock, a horrified Thomas looks on as his father wrestles Charlie out of the store. Think the typical kid-having-a-fit-at-the-store moment, only the kid is a strong, able-bodied young adult.
The film hits a peak of emotional brutality in the birthday party scene. Thomas, finally turning sixteen, has a birthday party with his family and new girlfriend Jackie (Ward). Things go well, but escalate when a furious Thomas smashes his brother’s video game system in retaliation for Charlie’s bad behavior. This causes Charlie to throw a violent tantrum, which leads to an all-out brawl in which Charlie bites Thomas and Thomas punches Charlie repeatedly in the face; it is a garishly memorable scene.
The more horrific aspects of the film are made bearable by the sweet and funny scenes Thomas has with his brother. As his mother gives Charlie a bath, Thomas looks in and smiles. As they sit together on a bunk bed, Thomas teaches his brother to say “monkey,” carefully mouthing the word so Charlie might grasp it. They are small but powerful moments.
Ultimately, “The Black Balloon” is about the difficulties of growing up with a sibling who has a disability. While Thomas struggles with his feelings toward his brother, there is an underlying message of love and strength, of supporting one another no matter how hard it may be.
As Thomas’ father aptly states, “All I know is [Charlie's] my own; you’re weak as piss if you don’t look after your own.”