It's the off-season at the lonely Beauregard Hotel in Bournemoth, and only the long-term tenants are still in residence. Life is stirred up, however, when the beautiful Ann Shankland arrives to see her alcoholic ex-husband, John Malcolm, who is secretly engaged to Pat Cooper, the woman who runs the hotel. Meanwhile, snobbish Mrs Railton-Bell discovers that the kindly if rather doddering Major Pollock, played by David Niven, who won an Oscar for his performance, a retired officer who likes to find out more...

Life with a troubled autistic brother is tough for Thomas when all he wants is to be a normal teenager. His new girlfriend Jackie tries to help, but Thomas must take a long hard look at himself in order to appreciate all of the positives in his life and to understand that a perceived adolescent idyll isn't necessarily the be all and end all. The multi-award winning and nominated 'The Black Balloon' is a thoughtful and nicely performed coming of age drama. find out more...