When The Balloon Bursts

Writer-director Tanmay Srivastav along with other writers James Philips, and Hunter Shallcross attempts to bring out the emotions/struggles of the foreign students through this beautiful intriguing film. Dinithi Fernando, Lance Lawyer, and the supporting cast understand the nuances therefore building the degree of audience engagement with the content instantly.

The plot of When The Balloon Bursts revolves around two foreign exchange students who experience the pressure of every day life. They reminisce in their shared love for poetry. But as the pressure builds their will to keep going is tested and there’s no telling when the balloon will burst.

The short film begins with a combination of mid-closeup shots of a door from where we see Niya (Dinithi Fernando) enter school followed by the class in a chaotic mood sets up the subject matter of the movie. The conversation in her mother tongue has been incorporated to provide the female protagonist with a sense of relief. The voiceover utilised by the makers makes the storytelling more intense with a crucial subplot. The set design, colour pallet, lighting, camera angles, sound, music, dialogues, costume, hair, makeup, and props are kept natural to complement the various situations in the storyline.

In terms of performance, Dinithi Fernando plays the role of the female protagonist Niya who is trying to gather all her strength and confidence to strike a balance between academics as well as life in the new country. Fernando showcases two different personalities of Niya very effectively so that the makers can depict her equation with her dad and school authorities as the narrative picks up pace.

Lance Lawyer plays Joshua who motivates Niya with a special note as they are in the same situation in life. Lawyer as Joshua is treat to watch as he subtly talks about his learnings from the life experiences and shares the same with Niya so she can use it to make her a better person both on a personal as well as professional level.

When The Balloon Bursts reiterates that all kinds of struggles/ pressures in people’s lives will always exist but it depends on us how we handle it to paint our canvas and lead our lives how we want to. The short film talks about the importance of a strong support system from friends, family or even strangers so that they can provide one the courage to express and not suffer in silence. The dramatic piece teaches the audience how crucial it is to prioritise mental health. The cinematic piece also talks about the responsibility the authorities must exercise towards all students so that these children can openly communicate regarding any physical or mental discomfort while pursuing the courses of their choice. It is often said that change is the only constant but one needs some comfort in order to excel academically. When The Balloon Bursts highlights that one should be ready to combat every situation in life because it is unpredictable. The creative piece tells us that not only hard work but overall well-being is necessary to achieve success in a true sense.