In my search to own some/all/most of the movies of my youth that affected me the most, I used some of the credit balance from selling my LP collection to purchase this 1956 French movie by Albert Lamorisse.
It's an almost wordless fantasy/elegy about a boy who finds a red balloon, and takes it home with him. The adventures the two of them have make the film what it is -- a view of the world from a 6-year old boy's point of view. The endless wonder and boundless enthusiasm of youth, as epitomized by his relationship with a found balloon.
It is also a terrific portrait of Paris in 1956.
The movie is only two years younger than me, but seems to have aged much better.
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