Description:
A drily comic approach to China's relaxed one-child policy that now permits two children per family. In his world, there is no chasm between modernity and tradition; rather, the two gently rub against each other.
The early 1980s. On the sweeping plains of Tibet, Dargye and Drolkar lead a quite life with their three sons. When their two boisterous youngest sons have blown up their parents' condoms like balloons this not only outrages the entire village in Tibet, but more practically: they have no more condoms. The shepherd couple already have three children, and as China has recently introduced its one-child policy, they can't have any more. But Dargye is as horny as one of his stud rams, so some form of contraception is essential.
"Balloon explores the relationship between reality and soul. Tibetan people believe that only the flesh perishes while the soul lives on. When the Buddhist faith crashes with the reality of modern society, they now have a choice to make." (Pema Tseden)