"We are like balloons. We can't fly to the highest point, yet we don't live on the ground."

Red Balloon is a melancholy but sweet peek into the life of gay teens in high school. It follows three different students throughout their life dealing with the unknown and bullies respectively. It is very short, but they really did a good job packing in the emotions they needed to in such a short time. It had a nostalgic feel to it, which I appreciated. It is mainly about lost chances and succumbing to societal pressure. Also, just being true to yourself and pursuing happiness.

The acting is what brought it together, because with eight episodes, each at ten/fifteen minutes long, it is quite short. The two that acted out the younger boys did a really nice job conveying the struggles of young love in world with prejudice. The music was beautiful. I absolutely loved the OST. Even if you don't watch the drama itself, I would recommend checking out the OST.

A warning, there is bullying and attempted self injury depicted in here, so be careful if you're sensitive to those things.

All in all, a tense but ultimately rewarding watch. I would recommend if you're looking for something short, but with content. There is sweetness here, but also angst as well which makes it a relatively fulfilling experience.