The Red Balloon (1956) is an adventure story, with symbolism and imagery tied to the ideas of Romanticism. Some stories are considered adventure stories because they favor a return to supernatural or philosophical nature. The adventure in The Red Balloon is illustrated in the film’s use of color, as well as in the story’s use of ideological and religious symbolism.

            The story begins with a young boy, Pascal, on his way to school. He encounters a red balloon tied to a lamppost, and retrieves it. Pascal proceeds throughout his day with this balloon. However, the balloon is not ordinary. It seems to have a mind of its own. The balloon follows Pascal without him holding onto it, it looks at itself in a mirror, and it tries to get into Pascal’s school. When it gets into the hands of a group of boys with rocks and slingshots, the balloon pops and deflates, much to Pascal’s dismay. Soon after, balloons from all over Paris seem to come to life, gather, and carry Pascal high into the sky. The story is sweet and is enjoyed on a surface level, but it also contains deeper meanings that lend themselves to adventure.

Color plays a large role in The Red Balloon. Pascal, wearing grey clothes, walks to his grey school through a grey neighborhood in grey Paris. The balloon is bright red, obviously standing out from the entire city. Not only does this call attention to the balloon, but it gives it life. Additionally, the colors in the film are representative of the ideas of romanticism, or returning to nature rather than technology and the man-made. The monochromatic color scale of the buildings represents industrialism, and the red balloon represents human emotion, hope, and innate life. One example of this idea in the film is when the balloon tries to get into Pascal’s school, a man-made institution. The balloon is not welcome there, much like how industrialist thinking dictates that emotion does not have a place in scientific thought.

The balloon itself carries additional symbolism. It lends itself to the ideas of childhood innocence in contrast with the darkness of the real world. When the balloon is following Pascal down the sidewalk, it encounters a girl walking the other direction with a blue balloon. The red balloon stops and follows the blue balloon. This scene points out that other children have balloons too, and reinforces the balloon as a symbol of childhood thought, imagination, and innocence. When the group of children is grasping at the balloon playfully, the situation soon turns ugly and destructive. This illustrates how easily childhood innocence can be tarnished, or even stripped away.

Many adventure stories tend to lean toward the metaphysical and often the religious. This story can also be interpreted in a spiritual way. The balloon is a symbol of purity and innocence, and it stands out from the world surrounding it. The balloon is chased and persecuted by a group, and eventually they pop the balloon on top of a hill, interestingly. The balloon could be considered a Christ-symbol. He was alienated, persecuted, and killed. At the end of the film, balloons from all over Paris come out and carry Pascal high into the sky. This could be representative of resurrection, rebirth, and exaltation. It illustrates hope that there is life after death through Christ.

Not only is The Red Balloon an adventure story, it can be an adventure for the viewer. I remember watching this film in first grade. I had never seen a film like it up to that point in my life, and the beauty of the story struck me. I was thrilled that the balloon had a mind of its own, and was determined to find a balloon like this for myself. The young viewer can appreciate the story and the sweet taste the film leaves. It can also be an adventure for adult viewers. Each time I watch The Red Balloon, new symbolism emerges and I feel edified and uplifted. The Red Balloon is a lovely example of a transcendent adventure story.