Le Ballon Rouge, Albert Lamorisse, 1956 by Josie Ainscough Le Ballon Rouge is a short, beautifully made film shot in colour, which tells the story of a little boy who finds a bright red balloon tied to a lamppost. He unties it, and finds out that it has a mind of its own. The balloon follows him around, bobbling along behind him, on the bus to school, even getting him into trouble with his head teacher. A group of bullies, jealous of the boy and his friendly balloon, chase them thr...

By Ed Millar   In the city where cinema was invented, it’s hardly surprising that there is a huge host of independent cinemas in Paris. For a truly unique cinematic experience, here are ÉCU’s top 5 best cinemas in Paris. If you’re looking for a typically French cinema experience, look no further than the club-ciné at Le Lieu Dit. Situated in one of Paris’ most artistic neighbourhoods, this venue not only offers a first-rate club-ciné, but also regularly ...

By Sophie Nellis     The view of Paris from Parc de Belleville Next stop on our tour of Paris is the area of Belleville. Straddling the 19th and 20th arrondissements, Belleville is located between Rue de Belleville, Rue des Pyrénées, Rue de Ménilmontant and Boulevard de Belleville. It is situated on and around a hill and if you make it to the Parc de Belleville there are some amazing views of the city’s skyline. Belleville began its life as a working cla...