Balloon
2018 · Movie · 125 min · ★ 7.5 · 62% critics
Two families in East Germany attempt a daring escape to the West using a homemade hot air balloon, but their first try fails just short of the border. As investigators close in, they scramble to rebuild in secret, turning everyday life into a tense race against time for freedom.
Also known as Le Vent de la liberté · Ballon
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Details
- Original title
- Ballon
- Years
- 2018
- Release date
- 2018-09-27
- Language
- German
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 62/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (478 votes)
About
If you enjoy fact-based, high-stakes escape thrillers with constant pressure and close calls, this should work for you, especially if you liked North Face; Not for you if you want subtle drama or slower pacing.
Pros: gripping cat-and-mouse tension; based on true events; strong sense of urgency | Cons: some clichéd drama; uneven pacing mid-film; added romance feels forced
Themes
- berlin wall
- german democratic republic
- stasi
- border patrol
- german-german border
- hot air balloon
- based on true story
- escape from german democratic republic
- east germany
- escape plan
- suspenseful
Cast & crew
Karoline Schuch
as Doris Strelzyk
Friedrich Mücke
as Peter Strelzyk
Alicia von Rittberg
as Petra Wetzel
David Kross
as Günter Wetzel
Jonas Holdenrieder
as Frank Strelzyk
Tilman Döbler
as Andreas 'Fitscher' Strelzyk
Thomas Kretschmann
as Lieutenant Colonel Seidel
Ronald Kukulies
as Erik Baumann
Emily Kusche
as Klara Baumann
Ulrich Brandhoff
as Lieutenant Colonel Tornow
Directed by Michael Herbig