Balloon Farm

Balloon Farm [VHS]

The town of Waterston is facing a severe drought, so it seems odd when a mysterious farmer named Harvey Potter moves into town and attempts to plant a new crop. Thus begins Disney's Balloon Farm, a tale about keeping one's trust and belief even in the bleakest of times. Rip Torn stars as the farmer who finds skepticism in all of the residents except one, a small girl named Willow (Mara Wilson, of Matilda). Greater suspicion arises when it appears that Harvey is able to grow a field of balloons that have seemingly magical powers. The film is quite colorful, not only in its bright hues but also in the variety of characters that populate the town. The suspicion of Waterston's town folk grows, however, when the highly profitable balloon farmer appears to be in cahoots with a company determined to foreclose on the local farms and turn the town into a massive garbage dump. As this is a Disney film for children, one can expect a happy ending--but not before the tension in the town rises and all seems lost. Hope survives, however, and the film teaches its viewers that "It's what you believe" that counts. (Ages 7 and older) --Zachary Lively

Balloon Farm [VHS]

The town of Waterston is facing a severe drought, so it seems odd when a mysterious farmer named Harvey Potter moves into town and attempts to plant a new crop. Thus begins Disney's Balloon Farm, a tale about keeping one's trust and belief even in the bleakest of times. Rip Torn stars as the farmer who finds skepticism in all of the residents except one, a small girl named Willow (Mara Wilson, of Matilda). Greater suspicion arises when it appears that Harvey is able to grow a field of balloons that have seemingly magical powers. The film is quite colorful, not only in its bright hues but also in the variety of characters that populate the town. The suspicion of Waterston's town folk grows, however, when the highly profitable balloon farmer appears to be in cahoots with a company determined to foreclose on the local farms and turn the town into a massive garbage dump. As this is a Disney film for children, one can expect a happy ending--but not before the tension in the town rises and all seems lost. Hope survives, however, and the film teaches its viewers that "It's what you believe" that counts. (Ages 7 and older) --Zachary Lively