French with English subtitles

A tribute to one of the giants of French cinema, THE ILLUSIONIST is another visually and emotionally rich offering from Sylvain Chomet, director of the much-loved THE TRIPLETTES OF BELLEVILLE. Working from an unproduced script by Jacques Tati, best known for his portrayal of the bumbling Monsieur Hulot, THE ILLUSIONIST follows a struggling stage magician in rural Scotland. While there, he strikes up a relationship with a young girl who believes his tricks to be real magic.

What follows is more than just an odd-couple pairing, as the young fan’s faith inspires the magician, who can’t bear the thought of disappointing her. Their relationship can be seen as a metaphor for that between the artist and his audience or a filmmaker and the world, but, perhaps most relevant to Tati himself, it also holds echos of the role of a father in protecting his child from the disappointing realities of life.

Vividly rendered and richly detailed, Chomet’s film is a tender, contemplative take on Tati’s script, and a lovely continuation of the director’s already substantial legacy. To delve deeper into Tati’s catalogue, don’t miss this year’s Pioneers offerings of MR. HULOT’S HOLIDAY and PLAYTIME.

PH