flight of the red balloon

i have over-indulged big-time lately with french films
or at least on those few that get a release in australia
one thing mostly guaranteed with them is slice of life stuff
human stories, emotions, interactions, love (of course)
super-heroes, violence, sci-fi, action, etc totally devoid
there are a few actors that appear quite regularly
stars that add an appeal to a film that lacks it otherwise
juliette binoche being the case in point
last seen in the ensemble cast of paris
and many films prior to that providing the x factor
x-tract the dollars from the film lovers of the world
in the flight of the red balloon she is the deciding factor
so even with lukewarm reviews i decided to take it on
she plays the part of suzanne - solo mother living in paris
employs a chinese media student to mind her young son
while she provides the voice in a small chinese puppet theatre
this film is a french/chinese collaboration
with strong overtones of chinese culture in paris
which is the other appealing component of the film
it's quite refreshing to see asian overtones in a european setting
but the looseness of director hou hsiao-hsien is challenging
a lot of scenes where nothing happens apart from being there
which of course is the point - slice of life stuff
but taken to the extreme with the actors improvising
so there are a lot of gaps in the dialogue
and times when the dialogue seems unrelated or trite
which really proves how carefully constructed most other films are
of course this may well be the directors intent with this one
the red balloon itself makes quite a few appearances
hovering above or near wherever young simon is
but this is no average balloon as it moves in a jerking manner
as though attached to some invisible carrier
there are no real explanations for the balloon's presence
though the fact that only simon is aware of it offers a clue
and in one scene song his minder makes a relevant comment
overall it's quite hard to get too attached to this one
usually with french cinema i find the actual story quite simple
and the ambience of the film becomes it's strength
in this one the story is almost non-existant
and more so it lacks a binding component
though the music is quite memorable
a few well known french performers including the piano of erik satie
i had a brief discussion with someone who had seen the trailer
had to agree that this one is well in the 'art' department
maybe another viewing will be more enlightening?