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The Illusionist

France, United Kingdom

2010

83 Min
Color
1.85:1
French, English
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
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DIR Sylvain Chomet

PROD Bob Last, Sally Chomet

SCR Sylvain Chomet, Jacques Tati

CAST Jean-Claude Donda, Tom Urie, Edith Rankin

ED Sylvain Chomet

MUSIC Sylvain Chomet

SOUND Jean Goudier

Berlinale (Berlinale Special), Karlovy Vary (Horizons), Melbourne (Animation), Toronto (Special Presentations), Telluride, São Paulo (International Perspective), Mar del Plata (International Competition), Ghent (Memories of Film), Vancouver, Helsinki (French Touch), Edinburgh (Opening Night)

Synopsis

The illusionist is a dying breed of stage performer. Ever since rock and pop stars have taken away slightly more than his bread and butter, his worsening economic situation has forced him to accept questionable engagements in dubious basement venues, at garden parties or in bars and cafés. In one of these obscure establishments – a village pub on Scotland’s west coast – he meets an innocent young girl named Alice. The encounter changes his life completely.
Alice is just as delighted by his magical tricks as everyone else watching the illusionist that night. The performance has been arranged in order to celebrate the advent of electricity on their remote island. But, unlike the others, Alice is completely captivated by our hero and is convinced that his tricks are truly the result of magic. She follows the illusionist to Edinburgh and keeps house for him while he performs at a small local theatre. Delighted by her enthusiasm for his art, he rewards her by ‘conjuring up’ ever more generous presents. Unable to imagine anything worse than disappointing Alice, the illusionist can’t bring himself to admit that he cannot really perform magic – instead allowing himself to be bankrupted by the constant present-giving…

The sad yet salutary romantic tale of The Illusionist is based on a screenplay by Jacques Tati. –Berlinale

Director

Original

Sylvain Chomet

Sylvain Chomet (born 1963) is a French comic writer, animator and film director. Born in Maisons-Laffitte, Yvelines, near Paris, he studied art at high-school until he graduated in 1982. Chomet moved to London in 1988 to work as an animator at the Richard Purdum studio. In September of that year, he established a freelance practice, working on commercials for clients such as Principality, Renault, Swinton and Swissair.

In addition to his animation career, Chomet created many print comics, starting in 1986 with Secrets of the Dragonfly. In 1992 Chomet wrote the script for a science fiction comic called The Bridge In Mud. 1993 saw Chomet writing the story for Léon-la-Came, which was drawn by Nicolas De Crécy for À Suivre magazine. This was published in 1995 and won the René Goscinny Prize in 1996. In 1997, Chomet published Ugly, Poor, and Sick, again with Nicolas De Crécy. This won them the Alph-Art Best Comic Prize at the Angoulême Comic Strip Festival.

The Old Lady and… read more

Wall

Displaying 4 of 105 wall posts.
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David Cohen-Tanugi

11Jun13

Sylvain Chomet's 'The Illusionist' would have been much more enjoyable if anything remotely charming had happened during the movie. The film kept me at the edge of my seat, hoping for a happy event or even at least some overtly dark humor. I much preferred Les Triplettes de Belleville.

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etilen

10Jun13

magicians do not exist.

Picture of Sourigues

Sourigues

23Apr13

Lindooo! Niceee!

Picture of Xesus Duarte Sith Patiño

Related Films

Fans

Displaying 5 of 1270 fans.

Articles

Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
W184

Lubitsch, "Hadewijch," "The Illusionist," More

By David Hudson on December 24, 2010

"What is the famed 'Lubitsch touch' if not the quiet thrill of being in on the joke?" asks Matthew Connolly in Slant. "The director's penchant

read article
W184

Electric Sheep. Propaganda, Peter Whitehead, More

By David Hudson on August 16, 2010

A quiet Monday in August is a fine day to catch up with the current issue of Electric Sheep, whose theme is "Propaganda" and features Peter

read article
W184

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2010

By David Hudson on June 17, 2010

The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw, the Telegraph's David Gritten and the Scotsman's Siobhan Synnot have each drawn up lists of potential

read article
W184

Ce n'est pas une pipe: "The Illusionist" (Sylvain Chomet, UK)

By David Cairns on June 16, 2010

Alors. The opening gala film at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival, The Illusionist is an animated film by Sylvain Chomet, who

read article
W184

Ce n'est pas une pipe: "The Illusionist" (Sylvain Chomet, UK)

By David Cairns on June 16, 2010

Alors. The opening gala film at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival, The Illusionist is an animated film by Sylvain Chomet, who

read article

Fresh Images From Sylvain Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
In the world of international animation it is hard to think of anyone whose reputation has grown larger with a single project than Sylvain Chomet’s.  Chomet burst on to the international scene in 2003
read on Twitchfilm.com

THE ILLUSIONIST review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
More than seven years after giving the world his much acclaimed and highly beloved “The Triplets of Belleville”, French animation auteur Sylvain Chomet has debuted his follow-up feature film, “The Illusionist”
read on Twitchfilm.com

French Trailer and Five Clips for Sylvain Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Finally, the French theatrical trailer to Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist has arrive and as an extra treat, there’s also five clips.  Its a traditional animated film we been readily keeping track of for
read on Twitchfilm.com

Sony Classics Picks Up Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Good news for animation fans!  Sony Pictures Classics has just announced that they have picked up all North American rights to Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist and will be releasing the film in theatres
read on Twitchfilm.com

First Trailer For Sylvain Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST!

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
[Trailer removed at distributors request]You know, I really would not have expected Russia to be the first place to get a trailer for Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist but there you have it. Sometimes life
read on Twitchfilm.com

First Footage From Sylvain Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
No, it’s not a formal trailer for Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist just yet but with the film premiering in Berlin, festival organizers put together a reel made up of footage from the film cut together
read on Twitchfilm.com

TIFF 2010: THE ILLUSIONIST Review

By Twitchfilm.net on September 10, 2010
A wistful ode to a now long-dead era, Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist is a film sure to both delight and frustrate fans who have spent years awaiting the return of the madman responsible for Belleville
read on Twitchfilm.net

Fresh Images From Sylvain Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST

By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
In the world of international animation it is hard to think of anyone whose reputation has grown larger with a single project than Sylvain Chomet’s.  Chomet burst on to the international scene in 2003
read on Twitchfilm.net

Berlinale 2010: THE ILLUSIONIST Review

By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
A wistful ode to a now long-dead era, Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist is a film sure to both delight and frustrate fans who have spent years awaiting the return of the madman responsible for Belleville
read on Twitchfilm.net

First Footage From Sylvain Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST

By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
No, it’s not a formal trailer for Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist just yet but with the film premiering in Berlin, festival organizers put together a reel made up of footage from the film cut together
read on Twitchfilm.net

First Trailer For Sylvain Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST!

By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
[Trailer removed at distributors request]You know, I really would not have expected Russia to be the first place to get a trailer for Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist but there you have it. Sometimes life
read on Twitchfilm.net

French Trailer and Five Clips for Sylvain Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST

By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
Finally, the French theatrical trailer to Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist has arrive and as an extra treat, there’s also five clips.  Its a traditional animated film we been readily keeping track of for
read on Twitchfilm.net

Sony Classics Picks Up Chomet's THE ILLUSIONIST

By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
Good news for animation fans!  Sony Pictures Classics has just announced that they have picked up all North American rights to Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist and will be releasing the film in theatres
read on Twitchfilm.net

Lists

Displaying 5 of 418 lists.

Reviews

Displaying 4 of 6

A beautiful film but the script lets it down a bit in the end

By Henrik Schunk on January 17, 2012

I adore Sylvain Chomet and am an avid admirer of his other works, but I feel like The Illusionist is missing something and unfortunately the spanner in the works lies with the screenplay, penned by…  read review

Life goes on

By Michael Harbour on January 16, 2012

A beautifully made movie with considerable charm about an itinerant magician and the gold digger who insinuates herself into his life – until she finds a young hunk to replace him. The Illusionist…  read review

Tati: The Generous

By SALAWAY GENNARO on November 22, 2011

The Illusionist is a man of vocation. But the times have changed and what once passed for entertainment is now faint and has been replaced by teenage-magnet rock and roll. The Illusionist struggles…  read review

stunning, but not Triplets.

By 5 o´clock coffee on March 11, 2011

For its beauty and my expectations, high expectations, “L’illusionniste” is one of those films you just have to watch in a movie theater. Unable to do it, though, I had to go against Tati’s ‘principles’…  read review

Forum

Displaying 2 discussion topics.

The Illusionist, starring Mr Hulot?

6 posts by 3 people about 2 years ago