Sorti on the Netflix platform in April 2018, 6 balloons is a drama. This drama highlights the issues surrounding drug addiction and the consequences they can have on the family environment. The particularity of this work is that it speaks of a harsh reality through metaphors, which make it less atrocious. The main roles are played by Abbie Jacobson and Dave Franco.
Katie (Abbie Jacobson) decides to prepare a surprise birthday for her boyfriend for his 36th birthday. During the preparations for the evening, at the request of her parents Katie goes to retrieve her brother Seth (Dave Franco): a young man father of a little girl named Ella. Upon arrival, Katie discovers her brother in a pitiful state. A state that could be described as a state of "lack". Seth is addicted to heroin, Katie knows it and wants to help her brother get out of it. It is then that she decides with the agreement of Seth, determined to take control of herself, to go to a rehab center and this, accompanied by little Ella. Alas, the day will not end as planned…
Seth, Katie and Ella – 6 balloons
Dave Franco's unusual performance
We had already seen Dave Franco, the little brother of the famous actor James Franco, notably in the role of Eric in 21 Jump Street.
While he played the role of a drug dealer, the irony of fate is that we find him here in the role of a drug addict addicted to heroin. The role of Seth shows a young father who seems to be still oblivious to the responsibilities he has on his shoulders. For the first time, we find Dave Franco outside his usual role of the handsome kid, as we saw in the film Nerve (2016) for example.
With the role of Seth, Dave Franco makes us go through different emotions. Seth is a character who changes state in a snap of his finger, once one man is suffering, another, a man full of life. The actor does not hesitate to show himself in a less flattering light, especially during crisis scenes, which could be described as being more real than life. We do not miss any detail of the gastric consequences caused by the withdrawal. We feel pity when we discover his condition. The spectator then goes through empathy for his will to get out of it, but we also get to feel joy as the paternal side of the character sends us positive feelings.
Katie's moving role:
Katie is the perfect representation of an altruistic character, consumed by the suffering that her family makes her endure. But especially the one caused by his brother. She never ceases to put the important moments of her life on hold, ready to do anything to save him. Katie is the character on whom everything rests, because she prefers to do things herself. She places herself as a mother to those around her, checks that they have done things right, but above all she protects them. Although tortured by the events that are happening in her brother's life, she does not allow herself a moment of respite. Katie does not allow herself to let go, even if it means putting her life as a woman aside.
6 Balloons is a drama that deals with the ills of everyday life in a clear way, and without violence. This work deals with the physical and mental consequences of drug addiction on the addict himself, but also on his entourage. The work done on the characters is partly responsible for the impactful aspect of the film. The acting makes the story real. The term 6 balloons resonates as a metaphor that is otherwise joyful, but that hides a less colorful face. An excellent film, which pushes us to become aware of certain realities.
