I hate to sound pessimistic, harsh, or cynical… but something about this movie got to me in a very bad way.

It must’ve been the talent on display, the superb acting, and the beautiful framed shots that (this might come as a surprise) spoiled the film for me. These things proved that those working on the film had talent, and a heck of a lot of potential, yet were almost refusing to live up to it – trying to be dull.
A great example of this is the cinematography. The shots were well framed, but that was it. It was clear that the cinematographer was incredibly talented, yet was refusing to do anything but put pretty things in the right places, when it was obvious that he or she had the ability to move and control the camera to conduct strong emotions or thoughts.
Almost everything and everyone else in this film followed the aforementioned process – flaunting their talents, but doing everything possible to restrain them.

The Flight of the Red Balloon was clearly trying to be a subtle meditation on ordinary French middle class life, but the obviousness of all the ‘subtle’ ideas and actions in the film, and the way that everything was forcibly toned down pushed the film into tiresome and most of all frustrating territory.

People with talent should be embracing it, not avoiding it. This faux contemporary French cinema is made purely for young pretentious hipsters with cash, and needs to be exposed for what it is: completely un-genuine cinema.

I’m sorry, but avoid. For a more engaging and finely crafted meditation on Parisian life, see Haneke’s Hidden, and of course, the original short The Red Balloon.