Original subtitles

The strength is added up and multiplied,

but the real problem yet to be resolved is weightlessness.

Balance must never depend on speed.

Yes, gentlemen, our civilization is headed the wrong way.

We're going faster and faster, further and further,

yet we can't walk down the streets in peace.

Going to the moon is one thing,

but we have to be able to live on Earth.

Let's go back to a saner approach.

I have designed the ideal means of locomotion.

The balloon.

Not like the ball we played with,

a balloon that can go up, down, and across.

Relying only on natural elements.

I said, natural elements.

The air that's around us is sucked in.

This machine reduces its density.

The lightened air goes into the balloon, which then goes up.

In order to go down,

you simply need to release part of the dilated air.

Inflating the balloon is very easy.

A child could do it.

A pump.

I am pumping.

The air travels into the low-pressure coil,

it's stabilized in the cylinder,

which then sends it into the balloon, which inflates.

And there you go.

The balloon is inflated.

It flies.

And all it took was air.

Watch out, that's not all.

And I insist,

the air released from the barrel produces thrust.

All it takes then is to adjust the flow in order to steer.

If I open the valve to the right,

the balloon goes to the left.

However, if I open the valve to the north,

the balloon goes south.

But how do you land it?

Not a problem.

I could land on a handkerchief.

I will fly across France,

north to south, across mountains and seas.

I will fly above Mont Blanc.

With this voyage,

I will prove to the world

that we, aeronauts, considered old news,

are at the forefront of progress.

Stop!

Look.

Oh, a chimney!

There.

Now, let's go down. Look.

Valve, the air flows out.

Now, I stop the descent.

Look.

Let's fly between those chimneys.

Over there, look.

There. So accurate!

Hey! Don't touch the handle.

If we fall in there, we'll obstruct the chimney.

Look at the balloon!

Hey!

Look, he's shaking.

You forgot the parrot!

No! I'm carrying too much of a load already!

One stowaway is enough.

Goodbye! See you later!

Look how tall the Strasbourg Cathedral is.

Why is the roof green? Is it on purpose?

Wait.

Let me maneuver.

We don't want to fly into it.

Granddad, is that a stork nest?

No, it isn't.

Look.

Let's fly right above it.

Watch out, Granddad.

The lightning rod is sharp.

That was very close.

Pascal, look at the storks.

Hey.

Oh!

Hey!

-What kind of balloon is it? -It's a special kind of balloon.

It goes up, it goes down,

it's filled with wind.

I've never seen anything like this.

-Are you going ahead this way? -Yes.

I'm going left. Goodbye.

-So long. -So long.

Bye!

Bye.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

Hey there! How far away are we from Paris?

Paris? It's over there!

What?

In a balloon it's five minutes away.

Is it? Okay, thank you.

You're welcome.

Bon voyage!

Thank you! Goodbye!

Goodbye!

Bye-bye!

Impossible. Impossible.

They'll never get here.

It's only an exhibition piece.

Yet, they're flying.

Yes, but they haven't landed yet.

Here they are!

Look, Pascal.

No one has seen the Eiffel Tower like this before.

I could shake their hands if I wanted to.

What an accomplishment.

Wait until my friends from the club see this!

Granddad! Look at the elevator!

Look, Pascal! Can you see them?

They're waiting for us.

-Congratulations! -Wonderful!

Yes, it's us!

It's extraordinary!

Now they believe me.

Congratulations!

My compliments! This is sensational.

Thank you!

It's amazingly accurate.

Hello, hello!

Yes!

Hello, hello!

Wonderful!

Look!

What an extraordinary invention.

Genius!

Goodbye and congratulations!

See you soon.

Congratulations and vive la France!

This is exceptional.

Wonderful, congratulations!

Granddad, is that bridge or a castle?

It's both. It's a castle on a bridge.

It's the castle of Chenonceau.

There, look!

We must save it! Look at it!

No, no, stop!

They're going around! You must go that way!

No!

Stop!

Leave it alone!

Leave it!

Let it go!

I think we've gone a bit far.

We're off the coast of Brest.

These are the last big sailboats.

They're racing from Brittany to the Canary Islands.

Hey!

Hey!

Get out of the way!

Come, come.

Come on.

Hold the basket.

Thank you.

Hold on tight. This way.

Pull, pull.

Come on.

It's very simple, a breeze.

But someone had to come up with the idea.

Let me explain.

I send in the balloon expanded air.

Hey there!

Oh!

Get down!

-Get down! -Oh, my God!

Come on!

Stop, thief!

Okay, one last time.

Watch out.

Over to you.

Oh! Extraordinary!

Over to you!

Bravo!

There.

Over to you.

Catch it, quick!

Catch it quick!

-Watch out! -Catch it!

Go on!

Oh, my God! It's burning!

-Quick, let's put it out! -We must do something.

Burning air? This is incredible.

I got it!

It's called Kabinksi's phenomenon.

They will blow up for sure.

His process modifies the gases' structure and makes them unstable.

If the temperature or the atmospheric pressure changes,

the balance between the air in the balloon and the outside air will be destroyed.

-Kabinski's phenomenon. -Absolutely.

-The balloon will blow up, then. -It will.

Yes, that way, on the small path.

Hey, easy.

Hello!

Of course, it's unexpected.

But if they think I'll give up, they're wrong.

Look, I've got my bases covered.

Are the Alps far away?

No, not for us. They're right there.

We've just flown past the river Rhône. This fort used to guard the valley.

With sheep?

No, with archers, crossbowmen,

marksmen, cannons...

-They're stupid. -Who?

The sheep. They think they're going away, but they're going round and round.

Hello?

Yes? Yes?

They're gone, they couldn't be stopped.

-They'll fly above Mont Blanc. -Such a high altitude? This is madness!

They'll never cross the Alps!

The balloon will not withstand the pressure.

They're done for, then.

They have no chance of making it.

Look, Pascal, over there is Mont Blanc.

Look, Pascal, Mont Blanc.

Right underneath us. Isn't that something?

Gentlemen.

-Sir. -Sir.

Gentlemen.

Olé! Bravo!

Come on!

Come on!

Bravo!

Look at him! He doesn't know what he's doing!

We must catch him! He's done for!

-The balloon will blow up! -You shouldn't have let him step in.

How about you? If you hadn't played toreador, the kid wouldn't be in danger.

Come on, drive faster!

Come on, hurry up!

I can't see a thing.

Wait. I have a tissue, I'll wipe the windshield.

Hello! Hello!

Hello!

Stop!

Come on, hurry up!

Stop!

Go on, there's enough space.

Come on!

Hurry up!

Look, the bulls of Camargue.

In position!

Go!

Go!

-Hey! It's me! -Are you all right?

Don't worry, I'm coming.

Wait.