Anna Baumgarten’s Balloon Animals manages to effortlessly spotlight what it is to have empathy for someone that you don’t know. And in a 2026 that feels like it’s rife with people not thinking about each other, Balloon Animals is timely, unpretentious, insightful, light, and funny.
At the center of this story are two grocery store employees played by Angela Giarratana and Izzi Rojas. The ease that they have around each other makes it clear that they’re super close. Rojas’ character lays on the conveyor belt, completely at ease. Meanwhile, Giarratana counts down the till and answers ridiculous questions about who they would fuck, marry, or kill.
This is where Kelsi Roberts’ character comes in.
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Admittedly, I was worried that their bubble of safety was going to be shattered. Too often when we see quiet moments like this with women presenting people, violence or an altercation follows. It’s how Hollywood likes to shake things up. And it’s lazy, repetitive, and shows a lack of understanding when it comes to developing compelling stories. Thank God, that’s not what happens here.
Roberts character came to the supermarket to get balloons for a brother that isn’t with them anymore. And something glorious happens. Because there is no drama, microaggression or danger afoot. Both of the employees ease into a comfort with the customer that feels like they’ve known each other for years. And it aligns with my belief that sometimes it’s easier to share with a stranger than those closest to you.
But this intimate moment that is constructed between these three women, wouldn’t be possible without the humor, empathy, and respectful nature of the employees. And a lot of that is due to both of the actors playing the employees. Giarratana has this dry wit about her that feels effortless. And Rojas has this light about them that can be seen from miles away and honestly would make me open up like nothing. Together they are magnetic and I need a series with them ASAP.
Balloon Animals goes to show you that you don’t need a flashy set, expensive wardrobe, or a banger soundtrack to tell a concise and memorable story. And this isn’t a dig at Balloon Animals. This is me praising the short film and making a dig at Hollywood. Because a lot of these big budget films don’t understand the reality of what we want as consumers. We want human connection.
And Balloon Animals delivers on that quiet intimacy that I have only experienced in club bathrooms with women I will never see again but who in those moments were my biggest allies.
Balloon Animals screened at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
