6 BALLOONS
US, 2018, 74 minutes, Colour.
Abbi Jacobson, Dave Franco, Charlotte Carell, Madalyn Carel, Jane Kaczmarek, Dawan Owens, Tim Matheson.
Directed by Marja- Lewis Ryan.
This is quite a heartfelt story about drug addiction, its effect on the addict, on relations, especially on a caring sibling.
The running time is brief. The action takes place over an afternoon and evening. There is a plaintiff musical score, piano and mood. There is a voice-over throughout the film, the telling of the story, chapter by chapter, a desperate story, of the vehicle, corresponding to the moods and behaviour of the sibling, images of water and drowning, a vehicle, options for continuing, going overboard, reaching rock bottom…
Abbi Jacobson is quite effective as Kate, the sister of the addict, Seth (Dave Franco), who has been clean but continues to lapse. Kate feels an obligation with love for her brother, hearing the story of the boat and drowning, but continuing to help, trying to take him to a rehabilitation centre, his escaping, his persuading her to go to a pharmacy to get drugs and needles, his injecting in the pharmacy bathroom, going on an extreme happy high, playing devotedly with his little daughter (very effective performances from twins, Charlotte and Madeline Carel).
Kate has organised a surprise party for her boyfriend but has gone to get the cake, been waylaid by her care for Seth, eventually returns, tense, trying to talk with her boyfriend and her parents, finding Seth on a down, going back to the car. She has images of drowning, opens the car door, water pouring out, standing in the street between the car and her home, the audience left to decide what the future would be.
1. The title, the tone? Festive? Ironic in tragic circumstances?
2. The Los Angeles setting, home, the streets, the drug institution, the pharmacy? The musical score?
3. The action taking place over one afternoon-evening? The focus on Kate? And Seth?
4. Drug issues, addiction, needs? Family and responsibilities? Siblings in care? The involvement of the little girl? Addiction, centres for addicts, treatments?
5. The device of Kate hearing the story, the different chapters, the vehicle, the boat, the water, images of drowning? The futility of help, hitting rock bottom, decisions to be made?
6. The portrait of Kate, older, not married, the relationship with Jack, having the party for his birthday? The preparations? Her mother, dominating? Her father, more amicable? The range of friends? Coming to the party, decorations? Katie going to get the cake?
7. Seth, younger brother, age, his love for his daughter, his addiction? Promises in the past, recovery, lapsing? Driving with Kate? Her protectiveness? His behaviour, erratic, serious, humorous? His being in denial? Kate taking him to the centre, the issue of insurance, the second centre? His being admitted, his reactions, leaving? The driving, the talking, his playing with his daughter? Persuading Kate to take him to the pharmacy, the attendant, the needles, the drugs? The key to the bathroom?
8. Seth, the bathroom, his injecting, the results? Kate and her upset? Seth, on high, playing with Ella? Kate feeling desperate? But the story recurring about the boat, rock bottom, drowning?
9. Getting the cake, Seth and Ella with the cakes, wanting to see the fireworks? The exuberance of his playing, his daughter’s joyful response?
10. Going home, the cake, Jack and his reaction, the parents, the guests? Seth on high? Eventually going back to the car?
11. His wanting to see the fireworks, with Ella? Kate growing desperation? The culmination of the story, the water rising in the car? Looking at Seth? Getting out, the water pouring out of the car, her standing in the street? The audience left to wonder what the future would be?
