Accept responsibility for your life
With great power comes geat responisibility
The role of Responsibility
The Black Balloon is a local drama film, which starts off with the hard-luck Mollison family who move to a new city, giving 16 year old Thomas the stress of fitting in to a new school as well as caring for his autism-affected brother Charlie. However, the film soon moves into darker territory, focusing on Thomas’s frustration at the responsibility he didn't ask for and which he fears will affect his own shot at happiness. It also focuses on Maggie, the mother, who takes on the responsibility of raising an autism-affected son while being heavily pregnant at the same time. In the 21st century, this sort of responsibility is hard for most teenagers and a few parents to even understand.
Thomas's responsibility
Thomas Mollison (played by Rhys Wakefield) is a teenage boy from a peculiar family who attempts to adjust to his new neighbourhood as his 16th birthday is not too far away. Turning 16 soon but also adjusting to a new town, school and friends isn’t enough for a teenager to cope with, especially for Thomas who’s family is about as unpredictable as they get. Recently, Maggie, Thomas’s mother, had revealed she was pregnant. Therefore as a result Thomas found himself looking after Charlie much more frequently than usual. In the 21st century that we live in now most teenagers would not look twice at someone who had autism and they especially would not take responsibility for one. As time goes by the film follows Thomas and Charlie along their ups and their downs. During those moments when they had their downs Thomas finds it hard to accept the reality of his life as Charlie’s brother and wishes to break free from the responsibilities of it “... He’s not my responsibility……. He’s a freak!” The film shows us that Thomas was hit with many difficulties in his life as Charlie’s brother but his love for his brother and his now given responsibility for Charlie is what makes Thomas realise the role of responsibility he is blessed with.
Thomas is an ordinary, ever day teenager. He plays games, sports and likes girls, especially a particular girl named Jackie. During the film the audience get to see the relationship that Jackie and Thomas develop throughout the film. The audience also see the more responsibility Thomas has to take on now that there is a girl in the picture. In most scenes Thomas is a part of something bad occurs especially with Charlie but in other scenes you get to see him taking on his role of responsibility and enhancing it.
Maggie's responsibility
Simon's repsonsibility
Simon (played by Erik Thompson), is the father of both Charlie and Thomas. He is an enormous cricket fan who is prone to holding intense discussions with his teddy bear. Although Simon loves Charlie very much he does not have the calm and collective attitude that Maggie has with Charlie. In the film the audience gets to see the relationship between Simon and his wife, Maggie and also the responsibility he has to take on when Maggie falls sick and has to stay over night in the hospital. "......well whose going to take care of the house and the boys?..... for Christ sake Maggie I'm not that useless!" This scene showed how Simon was taking over of the responsibilities that Maggie had left behind and that he is willing to take over.
Simon's responsibility and willing to take care of his family while Maggie is away is an example of what fathers were like back in the 90's. In present times fathers who have autistic children would either leave all the responsibilities for the mothers. Simon's acceptance for the responsibility for his son is what we need now a days.
Never too old to cry
This scene happened after Thomas and his family had come from the hospital because Charlie and Thomas had gotten into an argument which resulted into Charlie needing stitches. This particular scene shows how the responsibility he didn't ask for turns into frustration for Thomas which gets the better of him and which he fears will affect his own shot at happiness.
Responsibility for the one you love
In this scene Maggie showering Charlie symbolises how Maggie is accepting responsibility for Charlie no matter what type of disorder he has. Maggie doesn't need a guiding principle. Her love for Charlie is unconditional. Maggie gives us a big-hearted, easygoing woman who finds joy in managing her son in all his moods and if the neighbours can't handle that, it's too bad.