L'illusionniste

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

37K

YOUR RATING

The Illusionist is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With emerging rock stars stealing his thunder in the late 1950s, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatres, at garden parties and in bars and cafÃ©s. However, whilst performing in a village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever.

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Animation Drama Fantasy

A French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever.A French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever.A French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

37K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 7 wins & 35 nominations total

Alice
(voice)

Duncan MacNeil

Additional Voices
(voice)

Raymond Mearns

Additional Voices
(voice)

James T. Muir

Additional Voices
(voice)

Tom Urie

Additional Voices
(voice)

Paul Bandey

Additional Voices
(voice)

Jacques Tati

Monsieur Hulot
(archive footage)
(uncredited)

Director
- Sylvain Chomet
Writers
- Sylvain Chomet
- Jacques Tati
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
When the Illusionist is performing at the Scottish pub, one of the patrons in the foreground, near the middle of the frame, is the famous "Young Girl and Old Woman" optical illusion.

Goofs
Despite being set in 1959/1960, the Scottish Police motorcycles have 'American-style' sirens, which were not introduced until the 1980s.

Crazy credits
At the end of the final credits, there's a short bonus scene.

Connections
Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: No Strings Attached/The Company Men/The Way Back/The Dilemma/The Green Hornet (2011)

Soundtracks
My Girl Blue
Written & Composed by Malcolm Ross
Published by Django Films Ltd
Performed by Malcolm Ross, Iain Stoddart (as Ian Stoddart), and Leo Condie aka - "The Britoons"

User reviews129

Featured review

7/10

I was expecting more.

"The Illusionist" was good, but I don't see what the great reviews were about. (I agree with a previous writer who compared all the glowing reviews to "The Emperor's New Clothes.")

The animation was, indeed, subtle and exquisite, but I couldn't get into the story. Maybe the story itself was too subtle for me. Maybe I expected too much, since I thought "The Triplets of Belleville" (same director; hand-drawn animation) was one of the best movies I had ever seen.

I felt no connection with either the man or the girl. The other characters popped in and out so quickly that they were almost forgettable. And the ending was unsatisfying.

If I had seen this first, it would not have prompted me to see 'The Triplets of Belleville'.

NOTE: This is NOT a movie for children.