Despite several weaknesses, John Dower’s documentary film, The Balloonists, remains an exciting, engaging, and stratospheric story of overcoming the odds through perseverance, courage, teamwork, and ingenuity.
On March 21, 1999, with only a few hours of fuel remaining in the tank of their hot-air balloon, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones touched down in Egypt. Their 40,814-kilometre (25,361-mile) flight around the world was over, a journey that had lasted 19 days, 21 hours, and 47 minutes and had secured their place in history as the first pair to complete a journey many thought couldn’t be done. From Richard Branson to Steve Fossett, the race had been on to circumnavigate the earth for years, and now, despite playing catch-up and nearly never taking off due to the weather in Switzerland, Piccard and Jones’ Breitling Orbiter 3 had made it on the third attempt for Piccard.
Now, John Dower’s The Balloonists brings us the story of two very different men who unexpectedly joined forces to make a dream come true. It’s a story of an adventurous spirit, untold risks, high-flying ideas, and a need to prove the doubters wrong.
Born into a family of inventors and adventurous explorers, Piccard was headstrong, single-minded and charismatic, yet, as he himself admits, he was not the easiest man to be cooped up in a small floating pod for 19 days with. Meanwhile, Brian Jones, who had never intended to be the pilot alongside Piccard, was a calm, reserved problem solver who was never interested in adulation or celebrity. They were in essence chalk and cheese, yet it was their differences that became their strength.
Dower’s documentary is at its most insightful, exciting and fascinating when using the footage filmed by Piccard and Jones as their balloon silently powered its way around the world using weather currents mapped by the truly amazing Belgian meteorologist Luc Trullemans, who was the ground-based pilot for this mammoth endeavour. Scenes of Jones and Piccard flying above the never-ending expanse of the Pacific Ocean are riveting and petrifying in equal measure. At the same time, base camp conversations highlight the tensions and the restrictions of the analogue and early digital tech used to guide the Breitling Orbiter 3.
At a brisk 86 minutes, The Balloonists does lack detail that could have enabled the gripping story to soar. For example, focusing more on the personal stories of both men, both before and after the flight, and the technological restraints in play in 1999 could have elevated this documentary further, while a deeper dive into character, drive, and determination would have been welcome. Yet, despite these weaknesses, The Balloonists remains an exciting, engaging, and stratospheric story of overcoming the odds through perseverance, courage, teamwork, and ingenuity.
The Balloonists is playing in select cinemas nationwide from May 22.
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