The Black Balloon
Movie • 2008 • Drama
ReportSynopsis
Thomas is turning 16. His dad's in the army and they've just moved to a town in New South Wales; his mom is pregnant; his older brother, Charlie, who's autistic, has his own adolescent sexual issues. Thomas finds Charlie an embarrassment in public, so when Thomas is attracted to Jackie, a girl in his swim class, Charlie presents any number of obstacles when she drops by their house, when the three of them go for a walk, and during a family birthday dinner. Can Thomas find a way to enter the world of teen romance and still be his brother's keeper, or is Charlie's disability going to prove more than Thomas can handle?
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MysterySoup
Not quite sure if what happens in the movie can be considered abuse (I'm not familiar with caring for high needs autistic people), but I'm marking it as such because it may be distressing to people who are in those situations. We see the autistic character be roughly handled by his family and harassed by school children. He gets beaten up at one point. Cps is called, but not for any valid reason.
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Is a minor sexualized?
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MysterySoup
Some teenagers bait a mentally disabled girl into lifting up her shirt, revealing her bra
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Does someone die by suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
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Does someone attempt suicide?
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There are several incidents of violence and conflict within the main family. One altercation results in a hospital visit.
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MysterySoup
Charlie, an autistic character, hurts himself by hitting his head on the ground when distressed.
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Are there incestuous relationships?
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.4673
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Is there sexual content?
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MysterySoup
Masturbation and sexuality is depicted a few times, but no sex takes place.
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Are there abusive parents?
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MysterySoup
See my other comment for child abuse, the same applies here.
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Is there shakey cam?
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MysterySoup
brief, not very triggering.
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Is there defecation?
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MysterySoup
An autistic character defecates and drags his feces on the ground.
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Is someone sexually objectified?
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MysterySoup
Charlie is shown to have a crush on a female character, and, not understanding social boundaries, masturbates in front of her.
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Are needles/syringes used?
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MysterySoup
Not to inject anything, just to feed charlie.
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Is there ableist language or behavior?
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Neurodivergent people are regularly harassed by their peers. The term "spastic" is used in a derogatory way.
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Is autism misrepresented?
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MysterySoup
The actor who plays Charlie, an autistic character, is actually neurotypical. It can be argued his portrayal is stereotypical or unrealistic.
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Is a mentally ill person violent?
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MysterySoup
Charlie occasionally acts out when he's distressed by throwing things.
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Does someone struggle to breathe?
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MysterySoup
only mild when a character is learning to swim
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Is the r-slur used?
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MysterySoup
Along with variations of it, such as spastic
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Does a parent die?
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MysterySoup
One character's Mum is dead, but it's not shown or mentioned a lot.
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Is a child's toy destroyed?
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A character's Nintendo
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Does someone say "I'll kill myself"?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
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Is there hate speech?
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Abelist slurs
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Is a minority is misrepresented?
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MysterySoup
See my comment on child abuse.
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Is there childbirth?
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MysterySoup
Not onscreen, but a baby is born.
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Does the abused become the abuser?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
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Does a woman get slapped?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
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Is someone hit by a car?
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Someone is nearly hit by a car as they run out into the road.
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Does someone wet/soil themselves?
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A character defecates and plays with his feces.
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Does a family member die?
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Offscreen
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Are there anxiety attacks?
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MysterySoup
An autistic character has attacks or "fits" when he gets overwhelmed or agitated.
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Is there a shower scene?
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MysterySoup
The main characters get bathed a few times, once they accidentally walk in on a girl showering but nothing is shown
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Is there menstruation?
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A tampon, but not menstruation itself
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Are there nude scenes?
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MysterySoup
The characters have baths, but no genitals are shown.
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Is someone restrained?
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MysterySoup
An autistic character is restrained several times, usually because he's distressed, and once for a surgery scene.
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Where to Watch
