Let The Balloon Go

There is an occasional tendency with children's films to underestimate the audience, resulting in sloppy and inept productions. Such is the case with LET THE BALLOON GO, a potentially sensitive film for younger audiences that completely shortchanges their intelligence. Bettles, delivering a good performance in spite of the production, is a disabled youngster living in WW I-era Australia. Despite many setbacks, the boy achieves his goal by film's end, as he gains an independence from those around him. The director really doesn't know what to do with the story, focusing on the cruel rather than uplifting elements of Bettles' struggle. The film's possibilities are fur...