It was a rainy afternoon, and all the fourth-graders were herded single file into the school’s cafeteria. Forced to spend the lunch break inside watching a short film, we collectively braced ourselves for something akin to an educational program about mollusks that would leave us bored stiff. Instead, we were treated to a half-hour movie about a young boy in Paris who finds a red balloon tied to a lamppost. After the lad untangles his newfound friend, the balloon follows him through busy streets and bustling neighborhoods, causing accordion-scored mischief along the way.