As cheeky, boisterous and witty as it is delicately drawn and beauteous to behold, Sylvain Chomet’s second feature film, The Illusionist, follows on from the success of his brilliant and acclaimed animation Belleville Rendezvous.
The Illusionist is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With emerging rock stars stealing his thunder, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatres, at garden parties and in bars and cafés. However, while performing in a village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever.
Watching his performance to the excited and amazed villagers who are celebrating the arrival of electricity to their remote island, Alice becomes awestruck by our hero and believes his tricks are real magic. Following him to Edinburgh, she keeps his home while he goes to work in a small local theatre. Enchanted by her enthusiasm for his act, he rewards her with increasingly lavish gifts he has ‘conjured’ into existence. Desperate not to disappoint her, he cannot bring himself to reveal that magic does not exist and that buying these gifts is driving him to ruin. But as Alice comes of age, she finds love and moves on. The Illusionist no longer has to pretend and, untangled from his own web of deceit, resumes his life as a travelling entertainer, a much wiser man.
From Sylvain Chomet, the director of The Triplets of Belleville (Belleville Rendezvous), The Illusionist, adapted from a screenplay by Jacques Tati, is a magical and heart-warming tale of friendship and fatherly love that is sure to enthral its viewers. Rich with visual jokes, seductive 1950s period detail and breathtaking views of city and wilderness alike, this is the work of a master in his field – and one of the most gorgeous evocations of Scotland in cinema history. The old-fashioned hand-drawn animation was made almost entirely in Edinburgh, where the director lived for four years during the film’s making.
The Illusionist will be screened by Theatr Mwldan Film Society on Sunday 5th (6.00pm) and Monday 6th (8.30pm) December. To book tickets go to www.mwldan.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01239 621200.
