Learn german with 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.

Why learn german with Balloon?

"Balloon" tells the true story of two families who risked everything to escape from East Germany to West Germany in a homemade hot air balloon. The movie shows the difficult lives of people living in East Germany under communist rule. It also shows the dangers they faced trying to cross the heavily guarded border. You can learn vocabulary related to everyday life, family, work, and politics in East Germany. Some examples include words like "Familie" (family), "Arbeit" (work), "Grenze" (border), "Stasi" (secret police), and "Ballon" (balloon). The movie explores themes of freedom, oppression, family, and friendship. It portrays a range of strong emotions like fear, hope, determination, and love. The language used in the movie is a mix of formal and informal German, reflecting the different social situations. Hearing the language spoken in a real-life context will improve your listening comprehension. You'll also get a sense of how Germans express their emotions and interact with each other. "Balloon" is a great movie for German learners because it is a compelling story that keeps you engaged. It exposes you to a specific historical period and culture, broadening your understanding of German history and society. The dialogue is clear and relatively easy to follow, making it suitable for intermediate learners. By watching this movie with subtitles, you can expand your vocabulary, improve your listening skills, and gain a deeper appreciation of the German language and culture.