Balloon
Fish (2000)
Strange, surreal and unique. Austin filmmaker Mark
Miller (who is moving to L.A.) might be accused of doing
seriously psychedelic drugs if it weren't for the fact
that his short is so sentimental and cute.
"Balloon Fish" spends a part of the day with Kiki,
a young ethnic girl who apparently lives in a rural
Texas area with several Caucasian folks. Her quirky
and giddy "grandfather" sets her on a course to realize
that life is a wondrous stream-of-consciousness, when
he releases several balloons in the air and comments
on the nature of existence.
Kiki meets several odd and unique characters along
the way. One of these is another elder, like her grandfather,
who seems to be as whacked out as her paternal influence.
Her younger companions are no more coherent. A young
male who tags along on her journey seems to be deep
in the pudding. It's just weird and cool stuff. And,
generally, quite amusing.
Kiki, it seems, in addition to being able to read the
mind of balloons, also has a hearing aid that glows
a menacing red when danger is near. Just what kind of
danger the film is talking about is hard to figure out.
Doesn't really matter though, she's really a cute kid.
We like spending time with her, super-powered hearing
aids or not.
Miller begins the film with a short animated segment
before turning to a DV short. His film needs to be tightened
up a bit. But overall the story, acting and characters
are quite interesting and unique. The young performers
in the piece, as well as the quirky octogenarians, seems
to have a blast making the film. And they charm us right
into the piece.
More than anything, "Balloon Fish" is a slice of life
moment in the day of the life of the most unique young
girl. Like the mind of a child, it is filled with absurdity,
danger, color, songs, and playfulness. This is an interesting
and uncommon short film.
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Report
Card
Script:
B+
Acting: A+
Cinematography\Lighting: B-
Special Effects\Make Up: C
Music: A+
Final
Grade: A-
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