Black Balloon, The

Aroview: Honest, finely-drawn Australian suburban drama centred on a young boy trying to fit into a new city while charged with the care of his autistic brother.

Drawing on her own experiences as the sister of two autistic brothers, writer-director Elissa Down forgoes the savant showmanship of RAIN MAN in favour of a more common insight into the ups and downs of coping with autism. Unsentimental yet not afraid to show a heart, this bittersweet offering is backed up by believable performances from a solid cast. Winner of a Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.