In anticipation of the Lawrence Arts Center’s theatrical production of Balloonacy, we present two beautiful foreign family films sure to appeal to the heart of anyone old enough to read subtitles.

The Red Balloon (1956 – France, Subtitled, 34 min)

A red balloon with a life of its own follows a little boy around the streets of Paris. This deceptively simple and nearly wordless tale is the only short film to win an Academy Award for best screenplay and remains one of the most beloved children’s films of all time.

The White Balloon (1995 – Iran, subtitled, 1hr 25min)

A young Iranian girl yearns for a new goldfish, but in 90 minutes all the shops will close for a week-long holiday. She embarks on an adventure with her brother to make trades, ward off shady characters and get to the market before closing. This film was written by legendary Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiariostami and won the prestigious Camera d’Or at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.

($4 + $1 ticket fee online or $2 at the box office)