A STUDY GUIDE BY MARGUERITE O’HARA www.metromagazine.com.au www.theeducationshop.com.au THE BLACK BALLOON Introduction wooden spoon and wailing on the front lawn. Charlie doesn’t The Black Balloon (Elissa Down, speak. He’s autistic and has 2007) is an Australian film ADD. He’s also unpredictable, about a family dealing with the sometimes unmanageable, and day-to-day challenges of living often disgusting. Thomas hates with an autistic son. Charlie his brother but wishes he didn’t. is seventeen and presents all kinds of embarrassing The Mollisons are an army situations for Thomas, his 15 family; but it’s not what you’d (going on 16)-year-old brother. call a regimented life, or even The film deals with a number a regular household. Thomas’s It’s hard to of issues about family life and cricket-obsessed father, Simon, the difficulties, challenges and talks to his teddy. Simon and fit in, when rewards faced by families in Maggie are openly intimate, and which one of the members has now Maggie is going to have you’re the a disability. another baby. The warmth, humour, love and One morning, the semi-naked generosity of the Mollison family Charlie escapes the house odd one out. makes for a very engaging film and leads Thomas on a chase that is neither sentimental nor across the neighbourhood. grim in its depiction of growing Charlie bursts into a stranger’s up with a family member with house to use the toilet; and autism. It is an inspiring story Thomas finds himself face to about the power of love, family face with Jackie Masters, his and friendship. gawky but fascinating new classmate. The trouble is she’s Synopsis in the shower. It’s not easy being Thomas. Maggie has complications with He’s turning sixteen and her pregnancy and becomes moving into a new house – bedridden. Thomas and Simon and school. His older brother between them take on Charlie’s Charlie announces their arrival daily routine and Thomas to the neighbours by banging a SCREEN EDUCATION 2 experiences the less savoury aspects of coping with his brother. What he didn’t bargain for was the shit-smearing, THE BLACK BALLOON shopping centre tantrums, and riding in the Autistic School bus. It’s sink or swim, and Thomas is above all enjoyable. The soundtrack incorporates a number of popular songs, drowning. Students may recognize including The Screaming Jets’ The truth is he is – literally. several of the actors in the film @"ETTERAND.EIL&INNSCLASSIC The school swimming lessons who include Rhys Wakefield @&ALLATYOUR&EET are a nightmare, because (Thomas), who plays Lucas Thomas has never got beyond in Home and Away; Gemma Using The Black doggie paddle. Then Thomas Ward (Jackie), a successful Balloon in the is partnered with Jackie for young Australian model with basic life-saving; and Jackie an international career; Toni classroom swims like a fish. It’s only when Collette (Maggie), from Muriel’s Before watching the film they get to mouth-to-mouth Wedding (P.J. Hogan, 1994), s7HATDOYOUKNOWABOUT resuscitation that things pick Japanese Story (Sue Brooks, Autism spectrum disorders? up and young love blossoms 2003), Little Miss Sunshine Brainstorm ideas and share between the two – well, *ONATHAN$AYTON6ALERIE them with your class. three, because Charlie is also &ARIS ANDMANYOTHER entranced by the pretty girl. feature films; Erik Thomson s(AVEYOUWATCHEDANYlLMS (Simon), from All Saints, or documentaries, or read Thomas’s sixteenth birthday Wildside, MDA, and Somersault any books, where there is a dinner turns into a nightmare. (Cate Shortland, 2004) and character with some form of Pent-up frustrations about his ,UKE&ORD#HARLIE FROMKokoda autism? brother pour out that are both (Alister Grierson, 2006), All confronting and ultimately Saints and McLeod’s Daughters. heart-warming. Curriculum Relevance The Black Balloon would be an excellent classroom resource for middle and senior secondary students of: s%NGLISH s3OCIETYAND%NVIRONMENT (SOSE/HSIE) s6ALUES%DUCATION s2ELIGIONAND3OCIETY s0ERSONAL$EVELOPMENT s-EDIAAND&ILM3TUDIES It represents issues about growing up, dealing with disappointments and becoming resilient, in a unique and engaging way. Students should find it truthful and inspiring, but SCREEN EDUCATION 3 s7HATARESOMEOFTHE stereotypical attitudes people have towards those with some form of disability? THE BLACK BALLOON s$ESCRIBESOMEOFTHEDAY to-day demands on families your friends. Gemma Ward – Jackie Masters, providing care for a disabled Thomas’ girlfriend. family member. s7HATARESOMEOFTHEMOST difficult aspects of moving s7HATKINDOFRESPITEOR Filmmakers house and changing schools? break from 24-hour caring is Elissa Down co-wrote and available for people in these Cast and Crew directed The Black Balloon. situations? Main characters Here is an excerpt from her s(OWDOYOUTHINKLIVINGWITHA director’s statement where she Rhys Wakefield – Thomas disabled brother or sister can talks about the inspiration for Mollison, 15-year-old son of enrich peoples’ lives? the film: Maggie and Simon, younger The Black Balloon is a s)NWHATWAYSMIGHT brother of Charlie. everyone’s social and work ‘dramedy’ inspired by my own ,UKE&ORDn#HARLIE-OLLISON activities be limited through family – growing up within its 17-year-old son of Maggie and their responsibilities of caring warm and wacky walls. I have Simon, older brother of Thomas. for a dependent family two brothers with autism. member? Erik Thomson – Simon Mollison, My father was in the army father. so we had to move across s$ESCRIBEATIMEWHEN the country and fit into new Toni Collette – Maggie Mollison, your parents’ behaviour neighbourhoods, new schools embarrassed you in front of mother. SCREEN EDUCATION 4 and new groups of friends. The character of Charlie is based on my youngest brother THE BLACK BALLOON Sean who has autism, ADHD, and is an elective mute. As in the film, he did run into other Tristram Miall – producer. Hutchence (2005), Kanyini people’s houses and use the Tristram has produced many (Melanie Hogan, 2006) and toilet; he threw public tantrums documentaries and feature Naked on the Inside (Kim and liked playing with his own films, including Strictly Ballroom &ARRANT poo! The main heart of the (Baz Luhrmann, 1992), Looking film is to reflect my experience Nicholas McCallum – for Alibrandi (Kate Woods, growing up. What it is like to be production designer. Credits 2000) and Children of the a sibling: frustrating, upsetting include Kokoda, Gettin’ Square Revolution (Peter Duncan, and embarrassing but also (Jonathan Teplitzky, 2003), 1996). Documentaries include funny, uplifting and joyful. Travelling North (Carl Schultz, Cane Toads (Mark Lewis, 1988), 1987), Bodyline and Razorback Down has made a number Bingo, Bridesmaids and Braces (Russell Mulcahy, 1984). of films, including: Ladybirds (Gillian Armstrong, 1988) and (2005), Summer Angst (2004), Gumshoe (Malcolm McDonald, 6ERONICA*ENET!3%nEDITOR The Cherry Orchard (2003), Her 1992). Nominated for an Academy Outback (2002), The Bathers !WARD 6ERONICASCREDITS Denson Baker ACS – (2003), HMAS Unicorn (2001), include Bastard Boys, Love’s cinematographer. Apart from Samantha Stewart, Aged 14 Brother (Jan Sardi, 2004), his work on a number of music (2000) and Pink Pyjamas (2001). 2ABBIT 0ROOF&ENCE0HILLIP videos and commercials, Noyce, 2002), Holy Smoke Jimmy Jack (a.k.a. Jimmy Denson has shot Deck Dogz (Jane Campion, 1999), The the Exploder) – co-writer and (Steve Pasvolsky, 2005), The Portrait of a Lady (Jane co-producer of the film. Life and Times of Michael SCREEN EDUCATION 5 Campion, 1996), The Piano (Jane Campion, 1993) and Sweetie (Jane Campion, 1989). THE BLACK BALLOON Michael Yezerski – composer. Apart from composing the score for this film, he provided the above characteristics and mathematics or have artistic additional music for Kenny behaviours. Approximately 1 in abilities or special gifts in (Clayton Jacobson, 2006) 400 children are diagnosed with particular areas such as working and Suburban Mayhem (Paul this disorder, generally before with animals. Asperger’s Goldman, 2006). the age of three, and three out syndrome (AS) is the term often About Autism of four of those diagnosed are used to characterize high- Autism is a disorder males. The reasons for this functioning autistic people. characterized by developmental are unclear. Treatments are The sites listed here provide delay. It is generally described evolving and generally involve information about autism and as a ‘spectrum’. This term specialized early intervention are clearly indexed with many means that there are different and management. useful links: kinds of autism and not one Some autistic people are <http://www.autismvictoria.org. single set of behaviours endowed with exceptional au> amongst people diagnosed skills in particular areas such <http://www.autismhelp.info/ with autism. It generally as manipulating numbers and includes some of the following characteristics: sEXTREMEDISCOMFORTWITHTHE unfamiliar sMONOTONEORECHOLALIC (repeating words spoken by others as in echoing) speech patterns, or sometimes incoherent speech or remaining mostly mute. sDIFlCULTYUNDERSTANDINGSOCIAL cues sUNUSUALPREOCCUPATIONS sOBSESSIVECOMPULSIVE repetitive behaviours sHYPERSENSITIVITYTOSOUNDS sLACKOFEMPATHYANDDIFlCULTY responding to affection and touching sUNWILLINGNESSTOMAKEEYE contact with others Autism does not mean shyness, social awkwardness or eccentricity. People diagnosed with autism rarely exhibit all of SCREEN EDUCATION 6 htm/spectrum/faq.htm> In addition, the second listed website provides a number of THE BLACK BALLOON ANSWERSTO&REQUENTLY!SKED