Balloon

125 minutes

German
English

Germany

Thüringen, Summer 1979. The Strelzyk and Wetzel families have been working on an audacious plan for more than two years: they want to flee East Germany in a self-made hot-air balloon. But the balloon crash-lands just before the West German border. The Stasi finds traces of the attempted escape and launches immediately an investigation, while the two families are forced, under extreme time pressure, to build a new escape balloon. The Stasi get closer and closer each day - a nerve-racking battle against the clock begins…

starring...

Friedrich Mücke

Peter Strelzyk

Karoline Schuch

Doris Strelzyk

David Kross

Günter Wetzel

Alicia von Rittberg

Petra Wetzel

Thomas Kretschmann

Oberstleutnant Seidel

Jonas Holdenrieder

Frank Strelzyk

Tilman Döbler

Andreas 'Fitscher' Strelzyk

Director/Producer

Michael Herbig

Writers

Kit Hopkins, Thilo Röscheisen, Michael Herbig

Cinematography

Torsten Breuer

Editing

Alexander Dittner

Music

Marvin Miller, Ralf Wengenmayr

Production Design

Bernd Lepel

Set Decoration

Kerstin Grund

97% on the CINEMETER

98% - Mar 8, 2020

Every minute suspenseful - a wonderful movie.
San Francisco Member

Good old nail-biter even if we could guess the happy ending.. Outstanding score, subtle acting.
San Francisco Member

Stasi stasi everywhere! You could feel the fear. Amazing true story Best I've seen here in years. [many similar comments.]
San Francisco Member

I have never had such anxiety during a film - their research showed in the quality of the filmmaking. Remarkable storytelling.
San Francisco Member

A very different form of "helicopter parenting." But I hope Fitscher got his BMX bike, he deserves it!
San Francisco Member

Nervewracking but great movie!
San Francisco Member

MIL

93% - Mar 8, 2020

An incredible film -- it proves how lucky we are in the USA -- we're free -- we can "fight" about politics but we're free.
Milwaukee Member

The music added to me sitting on the edge of my seat sweating! What a thriller. Did Germany not learn a lesson from WWI? Sad!
Milwaukee Member

Reminds me of what freedom means and why we must fight for it.
Milwaukee Member

The music was so powerful I thought I was going to have a medical event. WOW! Best ever!
Milwaukee Member

More subjects like that one please.
Milwaukee Member

Awesome!
Milwaukee Member

BOS

100% - Mar 1, 2020

A tense inspirational story!
Boston Member

Incredible Movie! Heart Stopping. Many thanks for including it in this year's series.
Boston Member

Amazing. Very intense {a recurring theme]
Boston Member

Superb. Suspenseful. Editing kept the tension high. Affecting performances all around.
Boston Member

Balloon was one of the best movies shown at The Cinema Club. The anxiety level was high!
Boston Member

Terrific suspense. Great acting. Definitely conveyed the constant tension for East Germans.
Boston Member

What incredible suspense! Beautifully crafted.
Boston Member

Wow!! Excellent. I loved it.
Boston Member

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