Balloon
Two families attempt a daredevil plan to escape the GDR with a homemade hot air balloon, but it crashes just before the border. The Stasi finds traces of this attempt to escape and immediately starts investigations, while the two families are forced to build a new escape balloon. With each passing day the Stasi is closer on their heels – a nerve-wracking race against time begins.
The film earned $11.9M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Balloon (2018) reveals carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Michael Herbig's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 5 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Peter Strelzyk
Doris Strelzyk
Günter Wetzel
Petra Wetzel
Lieutenant Colonel Seidel
Frank Strelzyk
Main Cast & Characters
Peter Strelzyk
Played by Friedrich Mücke
An electronics engineer who initiates the daring hot air balloon escape plan from East Germany with his family.
Doris Strelzyk
Played by Karoline Schuch
Peter's supportive wife who courageously commits to the dangerous escape despite her fears.
Günter Wetzel
Played by David Kross
Peter's friend and co-conspirator who joins the escape plan with his family.
Petra Wetzel
Played by Alicia von Rittberg
Günter's wife who wrestles with the moral implications and dangers of the escape plan.
Lieutenant Colonel Seidel
Played by Thomas Kretschmann
The determined Stasi officer leading the investigation to capture the would-be defectors.
Frank Strelzyk
Played by Jonas Holdenrieder
Peter and Doris's teenage son who becomes involved in the escape plans.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Strelzyk family lives in East Germany in 1979, confined behind the Iron Curtain. Peter Strelzyk watches Western television with his family, dreaming of freedom while maintaining the appearance of ordinary GDR citizens.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Peter Strelzyk proposes the audacious plan to his friend Günter Wetzel: they should build a hot air balloon and escape to the West. The impossibility and danger of the plan becomes clear, but so does the desperation to escape.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 32 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Both families commit fully to the escape plan. They begin active construction of the balloon, purchasing massive amounts of fabric and secretly sewing it together. There's no turning back - they're now committing treason against the state., moving from reaction to action.
At 64 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The first escape attempt fails catastrophically. The balloon doesn't achieve enough altitude and crash-lands still within East German territory. They must abandon the balloon and flee the scene, now with physical evidence of their treason left behind., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 94 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Stasi identifies the families. They have mere hours before arrest. All seems lost - they have no balloon, no materials, no time. The dream of freedom appears to have died, and prison or worse awaits them., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 101 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The families make the final decision: they will launch immediately with a hastily constructed second balloon, despite the risks. United by desperation and hope, they gather everything and everyone for one last attempt at freedom., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Balloon's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Balloon against these established plot points, we can identify how Michael Herbig utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Balloon within the thriller genre.
Michael Herbig's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Michael Herbig films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Balloon takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Michael Herbig filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional thriller films include Eye for an Eye, Lake Placid and Operation Finale. For more Michael Herbig analyses, see Manitou's Shoe, Lissi and the Wild Emperor.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Strelzyk family lives in East Germany in 1979, confined behind the Iron Curtain. Peter Strelzyk watches Western television with his family, dreaming of freedom while maintaining the appearance of ordinary GDR citizens.
Theme
A character discusses the price of freedom and whether it's worth risking everything - including family - for the chance to live without oppression. The question: "What would you sacrifice for freedom?"
Worldbuilding
Establishing life in East Germany: the surveillance state, the limitations on travel and expression, the two families (Strelzyks and Wetzels), their children, jobs, and the constant presence of the Stasi. Peter works as an electrician, Günter as a bricklayer.
Disruption
Peter Strelzyk proposes the audacious plan to his friend Günter Wetzel: they should build a hot air balloon and escape to the West. The impossibility and danger of the plan becomes clear, but so does the desperation to escape.
Resistance
The families debate the plan's feasibility and danger. They research balloon construction, gather materials in secret, and wrestle with the risk to their children. Günter is initially hesitant. They must hide their preparations from neighbors and the ever-watchful Stasi.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Both families commit fully to the escape plan. They begin active construction of the balloon, purchasing massive amounts of fabric and secretly sewing it together. There's no turning back - they're now committing treason against the state.
Mirror World
The collaboration between the two families deepens. Their partnership represents the solidarity and trust required for freedom - they must rely completely on each other, embodying the theme that freedom cannot be achieved alone.
Premise
The thrilling construction phase: secretly acquiring materials, sewing the enormous balloon, building the burner, testing components, and planning the launch. The families work together in mounting tension, experiencing both the excitement of the plan and the constant fear of discovery.
Midpoint
The first escape attempt fails catastrophically. The balloon doesn't achieve enough altitude and crash-lands still within East German territory. They must abandon the balloon and flee the scene, now with physical evidence of their treason left behind.
Opposition
The Stasi launches a massive investigation to find who built the balloon. Lt. Colonel Seidel leads the hunt, closing in on the families. Paranoia intensifies as neighbors are questioned. The families must decide whether to try again or accept defeat. Günter wants to quit; Peter insists they continue.
Collapse
The Stasi identifies the families. They have mere hours before arrest. All seems lost - they have no balloon, no materials, no time. The dream of freedom appears to have died, and prison or worse awaits them.
Crisis
In desperation and darkness, the families must make an impossible choice: surrender to the Stasi or attempt one final, rushed escape with inadequate preparation. They confront their fear and the real possibility of death or permanent separation.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The families make the final decision: they will launch immediately with a hastily constructed second balloon, despite the risks. United by desperation and hope, they gather everything and everyone for one last attempt at freedom.
Synthesis
The climactic escape: launching the balloon at night while the Stasi closes in, rising into darkness not knowing if they'll make it to the West or crash, being fired upon, the agonizing uncertainty of whether they've crossed the border, and finally landing and discovering they've made it to West Germany.
Transformation
The families stand in the West, free. The closing image mirrors the opening but transformed: they are no longer trapped citizens watching freedom from afar, but free people who risked everything and won. The children can now grow up without walls.