The Black Balloon

All Thomas wants is to be a normal adolescent but this is not possible because of his autistic brother Charlie. Will Thomas be able to accept his brother with the help of his girlfriend Jackie? Towering over the film is the performance of Collette playing the mother. The film tells the measured and moving story of Thomas who seeks self-realization in this intense family drama. The fact that director Elissa Down grew up with two autistic brothers enables her to treat such a knife-edge subject with compassion and biting authenticity.