Dir: Albert Lamorisse
France 1956, 70 minutes total
Certificate: PG

The Red Balloon is about a boy called Pascal and his friendship with a shiny red balloon. They share everything together, until a group of bullies come between them… This well-loved tale by French photographer-turned-filmmaker Albert Lamorisse won an Oscar for best short film, and more recently inspired a London stage production, a perfume advert and the Juliette Binoche film Flight of the Red Balloon. Why has it aged so well? Because it looks beautiful, and it's a cracking story. Although more sensitive viewers may find the film's finale a little upsetting!

When the tour stops at Lichfield and Wolverhampton the film will be showing with The White Mane; a slightly earlier film by the same filmmaker about a boy who befriends a wild horse. At the other Red Balloon screenings it will be preceded by a selection of animation and silent comedy.

The Red Balloon and The White Mane are available on DVD.