Balloon

Balloon takes us back to the 1980s and to the plains of Tibet. Dargye and his wife Drolkar make a living as sheep farmers, and their house is also home to a grandfather, two young sons who love to play tricks on everyone, an older one who is a student, and Drolkar's sister who has moved home after being badly treated by a former lover. The film's depiction of how tradition, modernity, and Buddhism all make an impact on their daily lives, is truly wonderful. However, the couple is also gravely affected by China's one child policy, something which adds a layer of gravity to the film. Drolkar is afraid to become pregnant with another child. The solution comes in the form of a couple of condoms that cause many complications.

Pema Tseden (b. 1969) is a director and writer, and one of the most important cultural figures from Tibet. He has studied at the Beijing Film Academy and has published many books in addition to films such as The Search (2009), Old Dog (2011) and Jinpa (2018).