Balloon Animal

Poppy Valentine (Katherine Waddell) is the 24 year old daughter of Dark Valetine (Ilia Volok). She works for her demanding father and the family's traveling circus. She grows tired of the life. One night while getting fuel, she is pursued by persistent lovesick Drew.

This is an indie with a bit mumblecore. This seems to be the first full length film for filmmaker Em Johnson. I like the circus location. I was expecting something more to come out of the vandalism. The movie needs some more drama. There are some interesting individual scenes. It is a little light, but it has some compelling elements.

This movie is such a well done and emotionally honest coming of age film set in a family circus. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking and the characters are complicated and well rounded. I loved the relationship dynamic between Dark and Poppy and how you see them struggling to connect and be understood by each other. There is an element of romance for the main character, Poppy, but it is not the sole focus of her journey. Instead I think there is a great balance of self discovery and desire that comes to the forefront of her interactions with the love interest, Drew. The writing, direction, and performances make it 10000% worth and watch and I can't wait to see more by these creators in the future!

The focus of the movie is a dad who is obsessed with his trade and is oblivious to its role in driving off the women in his life. The daughter wants to be free of the trade, only to enter a circus of a different sort. The dialogue is elementary and smacks of playground antics and infantile mentality. The so-called climax is a conflict between intellectuals and the protectionists who betray their cultic lifestyle within their arguments. The whole of the film is self-delusion and the only able others to speak against the phenomena are unidentified agents of sarcastic banter. Please help me find a solitary point to this spent ninety minutes.

Coming of age movies are frequently sad. Balloon Animal is no exception. Trapped in the small world of a small circus, Poppy is a young woman who must do everything - star in her father's magic show, manage her father's circus, console her father, be everybody's friend. Not much is left for Poppy herself. But stay tuned.

This script is tight, and the direction is superb. Katherine Waddell is clearly a talent who will be on the big screen for decades to come. As the domineering father, Ilia Volok turns in another great screen performance. More than two dozen film festivals chose this film for viewing, and it won a number of different awards, pointing to its overall quality.

Watch the film, and enjoy!