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Title: The Illusionist
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| CONSUMER ADVICE |
Parents, outside of some smoking I think this is perfectly fine for kids and could have escaped with a G-rating. Recommended for all ages. |
The term “Silence is Golden” applies so well for “The Illusionist” that you’d think the phrase was coined for the film exclusively. I know that the dialog in “The Social Network” got me wrapped up in anticipation for the next twist, but the scenes of flight in “How To Train Your Dragon” left me breathless. Sometime the less said the better, as universal silence just has a way of being accessible to anyone. Don’t believe me? Ask anyone whose seen a Charlie Chaplin film what they thought of it, and chances are everyone will love it regardless of the language they speak. “The Illusionist” is not exactly a silent film, but so few words are said it might as well be. The story has few works so you’d think the story would be thin, but it’s not.
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It revolves around an old magician who is struggling to make a living. He still performs his magic act, but as audiences get younger they turn to louder shows for their entertainment. His shows never fill a house, the people there seem like they would rather be elsewhere, and his damn rabbit bites him every time he tries to feed it. During one act though a young girl see’s his act and believes him to be a real magician. To the point where she believes he can pull money out of thin air. He wants to tell her that magic isn’t real, but it’s the first time in a long time he’s felt truly appreciated, so he doesn’t say anything.
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He even spends lots of hard earned cash to get her things to make her happy. No, there is no romantic intent as far as I can tell, it’s all very fatherly to be sure. There is no attempt at having sex...at least, not from what I observed. The relationship is purely platonic. The girl has found something to believe in and the old man is happy to provide it because he, in return, wants to feel needed. It’s amazing how much of this is conveyed through a largely wordless world. The movie was rumored to be based off a letter delivered to the daughter of late film maker Jacques Tati, who had a daughter who he regretted not having a better relationship with.
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Who the letter was intended for is up for debate, but what does shine through in this film is that he had many regrets in life that he wished he could change. “The Illusionist” may be animated but it’s more observant about the human condition and their nature to be loved than most live action films. There are even some side characters who are more fully developed in this film then I’ve seen in some live action films this year...and these characters don’t speak and have less than ten minutes of screen time. As art, it’s beautiful. As storytelling, it’s masterful. And, yes, it’s also poetic in how it conveys so much with so little.
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The director of this film is Sylvain Chomet, whose previous film was the Oscar-nominated “The Triplets of Belville.” I enjoyed that film (which was also silent) because it was quirky, fun, and different with a unique art style. In comparison “The Illusionist” retains the art style but is more subdued, more serious, and contemplates more. It has moments of fun but it has a heart that film did not. Though only his second film, this is likely the film he was born to make, and he’s left the world a great gift even if he never makes another film. Will people see it? I hope so. It’s hard to get people on board with such a unique film, but for those who do they will forever remember it and it will touch their hearts like few other films can.
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