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A screening of Yuri Norstein's landmark Soviet animation Hedgehog in the Fog 1975 and Albert Lamorisse’s beloved French short film The Red Balloon 1956.

Ёжик в тумане (Hedgehog in the Fog) 1975

On his way to visit his friend Bear-Cub, the inquisitive Hedgehog gets lost in a fog full of startling surprises. One of the most acclaimed and beloved animated short films of the twentieth century, the Soviet-produced Hedgehog in the Fog is an intricately-constructed parable that explores the courage required to stray from the beaten path.

11 minutes | All Ages

Le ballon rouge (The Red Balloon) 1956

Set in post-occupation Paris, French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse’s playful featurette tells the tale of Pascal (played by the director’s son Pascal Lamorisse), a young boy who strikes up an unusual friendship with a sentient red balloon that follows him around the hazy streets of his home city. A prized possession and close friend, the balloon irritates his teachers and inspires both wonder and envy in his school peers. Soon, Pascal is brought face to face with the mass psychology of the crowd, and the petty bellicosity that frequently threaten to ground one’s highest hopes.

A beloved short that won both an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and a Palme d’Or for Best Short Film in 1957, The Red Balloon wonderfully captures the magic of youth and France’s post-war optimism.

35 minutes | G