The Illusionist (2010)

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• Project Phase: Completed
• Release Date: 2010-12-25 - NY and/or LA
• Distributor(s): Sony Pictures Classics
• Film Genre(s): Comedy, Animation
• Country: United Kingdom
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SYNOPSIS

Based on an unproduced screenplay by the late Jacques Tati, 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.

RELATED NEWS

After having paired with Sylvain Chomet on his bre : 2010-04-26

The notion of an untold Jacques Tati story finally : 2010-01-22

Further proof that Sylvain Chomet's 2D animated Th : 2009-09-09

With the final Gala and Special Presentation annou : 2009-08-13

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A sub-par edition of Cannes might signify a better : 2009-06-13

Nonetheless, Pathe brought Jane Campion's Bright S : 2009-05-13