australian filmmaker elissa down the black balloon be a thoughtful film and down to earth with no apology in depict a close knit family of four ( toni collette a mom who be pregnant with a fifth member come and erik thomson a dad whose army life demand constant moving and and two teenage son represent luke ford a charlie the autistic one who be old in age but not in behavior and and rhys wakefield a baby face thomas in his uneasy grow teen period ) take on living with autistic challenge everyday ( sometimes by the moment ) . it be a come of age story revolve around 17 year old thomas and how he deal with the people around him represent his brother charlie and mom and dad and schoolmate and new friend and neighbor . there be more than meet the eye . thomas seem to be battle inner conflict and dilemma he reluctant to confront represent will charlie ever be normal . he ask . charlie be not my problem and he shout . mom and dad be both very patient and tolerant . the family togetherness be very much hold by a determined mother ( again and brilliantly portray by toni collette ) that would not give up on her eldest and and charlie be treat just like any child have his ( normal ) tantrum and ( unpredictable ) antic . a the film progress and we feel for thomas frustration with charlie and and welcome the relief of his delight with popular girl at school and jackie ( gemma ward give an endearing portrayal ) who have no problem hang out with both thomas and charlie . she ( from a single dad family ) accept charlie with equal normalcy and seem to fit into thomas family rather well . like any family life and there be turn of event represent mom have to be confine to bed at the hospital prior to birth of baby and so dad and thomas be leave with the charge to handle charlie day to day need a learning curve that thomas do not expect . through the ups and down ( thomas drive lesson with dad in his car and thomas birthday family celebration blow out with jackie present ) and anguish and laughter ( yes and that happens and if only we can laugh it off and let go more often ) and a new family member do arrive and and at charlie school performance and thomas have his coming of age challenge and come through understand his brother charlie more . director down spare u no amushy sentiment or hollywood feel good pressure she deliver a bold and assured script ( co write with jimmy jack and tell like it be from her personal experience with two autistic brother ) and give u a film we can appreciate the possible family warmth that can be steadfastly generate in challenge circumstance . the black balloon have hardly the hint of a debut feature from a talented filmmaker to watch and elissa down . the casting of luke ford and rhys wakefield pair a the two brother be a godsend and indeed . convince performance all round . enjoy also the interesting opening credit represent at the corner of your eye and you could notice there be extraneous word or obvious name label of thing within each frame and e. g. and grass and sky and wall and jean and fence a the credit roll on . ah and it for the sake of charlie and the autistic brother and the rest of the family and too .