Let me try to explain. This morning I got up to the music of
the wind against my window and despite the heavily curtained room I knew that
outside the day was grey, either raining or at least heavily fearful with the
threat. So the sound of the wind and the scudding grey clouds set the tone for
the day and, with the greyness I knew lurked outside, so was my mood.
Walking along the road, wind blowing at my heels, air heavy
with that dank greyness of another dank grey day, I began to notice the
minutiae of the world around me. A leaf tumbling along the path, the way that
people walked all hunched and pocketed huddling from the heavy breeze, a torn
poster on a window flapping its wave at me. Well, one thing leads to another
and shot by shot the film in my head turned black and white, French, and
sentimentally sad – it was all I could do not to search for a red balloon
floating in the sky above.
Strangely, despite my ability to focus on the incredible
detail around me and put it all together as what I like to think is a big
picture, I hardly ever recognise the players moving within it even when I know
them. So I may well have passed people I know quite well without any
acknowledgement at all providing more evidence of my moodiness some might say.
Truth is though; I’m so caught up in observing the mood of the world that I
hardly ever see the people moving through it
So to my point, if there is one: If I cut you dead
in the street, it isn’t because I’m ignoring you, or that I’m being moody –
it’s just that I’m caught up in the mood of the world, listening to its music
and looking to the sky for a single red balloon - and I'm sticking to it.
Kevin Parrott on Facebook:
ReplyDeleteI remember it well. It was on TV in the 50s, b&w. There was another film at the time about a bicycle thief (Italian film I think).
At primary school we were taken to a live theatre production of the children's educational programme 'Picture Box'. This took place at the Tameside Theatre in Stockport. Alan Rothwell presented films of which one was The Red Balloon. It certainly held our attention as I remember being glued to it and don't remember any surrounding naughtiness. He was the first person I saw in real life that I had seen on TV. What an event! Simple days.
ReplyDeleteThe blog could have been written in November. A piece of history informing the future know as to how crap was the June of 2012.
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ReplyDeleteMichael Snow My memory is also extensive. We had B&W back then do the red balloon was a bit lost on me!
ReplyDeleteSandra Bouguerch on Facebook: i somehow think i have seen this film?? got my last results today for the personal project since jan. am chuffed to bits. really tired now though!! will let you know the final out come later on next month when its all been formulted x liked your observations on the day.
ReplyDeleteDrawforjoy Illustrations on Facebook:
ReplyDeleteI remember! I love it!
Vicky Sutcliffe Not me... Before my time!
ReplyDeleteLiam Reeve Got it on blu-ray for £6 on Amazon. Great film.
ReplyDeleteBarbara Balding on Facebook:
ReplyDeleteI remember it well! x
If you haven't seen it then you should..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQhvgo62l74
I don't recall the plot but I seem to remember it was a bit of an emotional roller-coaster with a bitter-sweet ending.
ReplyDeleteIf you ignored me in the street I'd punch you very hard and repeatedly until you acknowledged me.
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ReplyDeleteMy hands are like iron, what do you think I am... a softie?
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ReplyDeleteWhenever I see a balloon disappearing up into the sky I think about the child that is left behind crying.
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ReplyDeleteThanks Sparky that save my bacon! (crosses fingers, revolves three times, salutes and twitches nose).
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