Balloon
One of the most daring escapes of the Cold War.
Directed by Michael Herbig
Produced by Sat.1, SevenPictures Film
A taut, historically grounded thriller about ordinary families risking everything to escape authoritarian oppression, driven by mounting paranoia and the clock.
Two families attempt a daredevil plan to escape the GDR with a homemade hot air balloon, but it crashes just before the border. The Stasi finds traces of this attempt to escape and immediately starts investigations, while the two families are forced to build a new escape balloon. With each passing day the Stasi is closer on their heels – a nerve-wracking race against time begins.
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is Balloon easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of films.
Does Balloon end with hope? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Balloon violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Balloon sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Balloon scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
There is almost nothing else like this.
How unlike any other film this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Balloon, and what each one shares →
Like Balloon
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Balloon
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Balloon, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Balloon, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Balloon, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
