Balloon (2018 film)

Ballon (film)

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2018
Founder	Michael Herbig (director)
Headquarters	Germany
Products	Thriller drama film

Balloon () is a German thriller drama from 2018, directed by Michael Herbig. The film recounts the 1979 escape of the Strelzyk and Wetzel families from East Germany to West Germany using a self-constructed hot-air balloon. Including four children, the families successfully traveled from Pößneck in Thuringia to Naila in Bavaria, reaching an altitude of .

For research purposes, Herbig examined extensive Stasi archives related to the escape. While the film has been lauded for its suspenseful action sequences, some reviewers have pointed out a lack of deeper historical context. A related narrative was previously portrayed in Disney’s 1982 movie Night Crossing.

Plot

During the summer of 1979 in Pößneck, Thuringia, the Strelzyk and Wetzel families formulate a plan to flee the GDR by means of a homemade hot-air balloon. Günter Wetzel expresses reservations about the safety risks for his family and halts their initial attempt. Consequently, the Strelzyk family proceeds alone with their two sons. Their son Frank pens a farewell note addressed to Klara Baumann, daughter of their neighbor Erik, who serves as a Stasi officer.

The Strelzyks launch their balloon under cover of night but are forced to land early when their equipment freezes. Unharmed, they destroy all incriminating evidence before escaping. The abandoned balloon is discovered by the Stasi, prompting a thorough investigation led by Lieutenant Colonel Seidel, who narrows down suspects by tracing the launch site.

Both families live under constant fear of discovery as the Stasi intensifies surveillance, especially after personalized medication is linked to Doris Strelzyk. A failed escape attempt via the US Embassy in East Berlin leads Peter to persuade Günter to attempt another balloon flight. They covertly gather supplies and sew a larger balloon.

With Seidel closing in, preparations for a second escape under perilous conditions begin. Despite encountering difficulties and running low on gas mid-flight—resulting in an emergency landing within a forest—the families ultimately reach West Germany safely. The Stasi leadership faces criticism for failing to prevent their defection.

A decade later, Doris and Peter watch Hans-Dietrich Genscher’s announcement allowing GDR citizens at the Prague embassy to depart freely.

Development

Director Michael Herbig spent six years developing this film after meeting Günter Wetzel, a former refugee from the GDR who recounted his 1978 balloon escape. Wetzel and an associate had constructed a homemade hot-air balloon to cross the border. Herbig was inspired by Disney’s earlier depiction of this event in Night Crossing (1982), released when he was Frank Strelzyk’s age.

Attempts to obtain remake rights revealed that both families had already extensively sold their stories. Following legal consultation, Herbig reached out to Disney through Roland Emmerich. He secured consulting agreements with both the Strelzyk and Wetzel families, which were crucial for production authorization. Financing comprised 700,000 euros from herbXfilm matched by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, alongside 1.25 million euros from FilmFernsehFonds Bayern. Additional funding came from the German Film Fund (2,049,800 euros), Central German Media Fund (150,000 euros), and Film Funding Agency (650,000 euros). This project marked herbXfilm’s inaugural co-production with StudioCanal and SevenPictures.

According to NDR Info’s Krischan Koch, Herbig emphasized authenticity but chose to center Ballon on the escape narrative rather than delve into GDR state security or political repression themes. Berliner Zeitung’s Norbert Koch-Klaucke observed that the film omits post-escape persecution by the SED and Stasi—such as ongoing harassment of the families in West Germany—which aimed to coerce their return and complicate their lives following their high-profile defection.

Filming and equipment

Production took place across Bavaria, Thuringia, and Berlin, commencing on September 18, 2017, in Munich. During October, filming occurred in Nordhalben, which was modified to depict the 1970s GDR, as well as in Mödlareuth, a village historically split by a border wall during the GDR period, often referred to as 'little Berlin'. Additional scenes set in Berlin were shot at the Hotel Stadt Berlin, now operating as the Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz. After a 50-day shoot, filming wrapped on November 24, 2017. The cinematographer for the project was Torsten Breuer.

Director Herbig gained access to Stasi archives and photographs of the balloon gondola taken at the crash location; these images are included in the film’s closing credits. Two balloons featured in the movie were physical replicas; the second balloon stood high, made from of fabric, with a volume of . The authentic escape balloon was unavailable due to ongoing restoration but is exhibited at the Museum of Bavarian History in Regensburg, which opened its doors in June 2019. Additionally, green screen techniques were utilized during various sequences.

Music and release

The soundtrack was composed by Ralf Wengenmayr' and performed by the Babelsberg German Film Orchestra. Sidney Schering from Quotenmeter.de remarked that Wengenmayr’s score plays a critical role in heightening Ballons suspense, drawing comparisons to Hans Zimmer’s rhythmic and synthesizer-driven work on Dunkirk. Within the film, Petra Wetzel sings the children's tune Bummi-Lied to soothe the children aboard the balloon; this is performed by the actual Petra Wetzel.

The initial trailer was released in late June 2018. Ballon had its premiere on September 12, 2018, at Munich's Mathäser Filmpalast, attended by Günter Wetzel and relatives of those who escaped; director Herbig was unable to attend due to health issues. The film officially opened in German theaters on September 27, 2018, and was subsequently screened at both the Zurich Film Festival and Haifa International Film Festival later that year. It was introduced to UK cinemas on June 14, 2019.

On the financial side, Ballon secured €200,000 in distribution funding from FilmFernsehFonds Bayern and an additional €150,000 from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, reflecting significant regional backing for its production and distribution.

Reception

In Germany, Ballon received an age rating allowing viewers aged 12 and above. Approximately 936,000 spectators watched the film in German cinemas. It was included in the preselection for the German Film Award 2019.

Critical reception

As of , Template:RT data of reviews in English on Rotten Tomatoes are favorable out of 30 critiques, with an average score of Template:RT data. The website’s summary notes that while Ballon may not match the excitement of its true story inspiration, it remains a well-crafted and frequently captivating political thriller. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 53 out of 100 based on nine reviews, signifying "mixed or average reviews."

Andre Petzer from Epd Film observes that although Michael Herbig condenses events for dramatic purposes, he successfully evokes emotional depth and reinvents his directorial approach through effective suspense storytelling. Petzer emphasizes a moving conclusion that connects this historical escape narrative with contemporary refugee issues.

Karoline Meta Beisel of the Süddeutsche Zeitung criticizes the film for an overabundance of music, sentimentality, and dramatic flair, resulting in excessive emotional weight.

The German Film and Media Assessment awarded Ballon a rating of Particularly Valuable, commending its crime thriller elements, sustained tension, thorough research evident in set design and costumes, as well as its subtle depiction of GDR citizens' perspectives. The film is acknowledged as an engaging and meticulously crafted portrayal of the quest for freedom.

Awards

• Peace Prize of German Films – The Bridge, top national honor awarded to Michael Herbig
• Audience Choice Award for Cultural Journey: Germany at the Heartland International Film Festival presented to Michael Herbig
• Nomination for the German Camera Prize in the feature film category, credited to Torsten Breuer

External links

• Educational film booklet by Vision Kino