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The Illusionist

Original title: L'illusionniste
  • 20102010
  • PGPG
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
35K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
L'illusionniste (2010)
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 cafés. 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.
Play trailer1:33
4 Videos
99+ Photos
  • 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.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
35K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Sylvain Chomet
  • Writers
    • Sylvain Chomet(adaptation)
    • Jacques Tati(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Claude Donda(voice)
    • Eilidh Rankin(voice)
    • Duncan MacNeil(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sylvain Chomet
  • Writers
    • Sylvain Chomet(adaptation)
    • Jacques Tati(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Claude Donda(voice)
    • Eilidh Rankin(voice)
    • Duncan MacNeil(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 125User reviews
    • 207Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 7 wins & 34 nominations total

    Videos4

    The Illusionist: U.S. Trailer
    Trailer 1:33
    The Illusionist: U.S. Trailer
    The Illusionist: International Trailer
    Trailer 1:28
    The Illusionist: International Trailer
    The Illusionist: "Exercise"
    Clip 0:42
    The Illusionist: "Exercise"
    The Illusionist: "Lady Singer"
    Clip 1:26
    The Illusionist: "Lady Singer"

    Photos128

    L'illusionniste (2010)
    L'illusionniste (2010)
    Jean-Claude Donda in L'illusionniste (2010)
    L'illusionniste (2010)
    Jean-Claude Donda in L'illusionniste (2010)
    L'illusionniste (2010)
    Jean-Claude Donda in L'illusionniste (2010)
    Jean-Claude Donda and Eilidh Rankin in L'illusionniste (2010)
    L'illusionniste (2010)
    Eilidh Rankin in L'illusionniste (2010)
    Eilidh Rankin in L'illusionniste (2010)
    L'illusionniste (2010)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean-Claude Donda
    • The Illusionistas The Illusionist
    • (voice)
    • …
    Eilidh Rankin
    • Aliceas Alice
    • (voice)
    Duncan MacNeil
    • Additional Voicesas Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Raymond Mearns
    • Additional Voicesas Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    James T. Muir
    • Additional Voicesas Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Tom Urie
    • Additional Voicesas Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Paul Bandey
    Paul Bandey
    • Additional Voicesas Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Jacques Tati
    Jacques Tati
    • Monsieur Hulotas Monsieur Hulot
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Sylvain Chomet
    • Writers
      • Sylvain Chomet(adaptation)
      • Jacques Tati(original screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Details the story of a dying breed of stage entertainer whose thunder is being stolen by emerging rock stars. Forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theaters, garden parties and bars, he meets a young fan who changes his life forever. —Anonymous
    • very little dialogue
    • 1950s
    • scotland
    • hand drawn animation
    • traditional animation
    • 97 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Animation
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for thematic elements and smoking
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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 reviews125

    Review
    Top 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.
    helpful•32
    24
    • JulieKelleher57
    • Feb 2, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 11, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures Classics (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Gaelic
    • Also known as
      • Ілюзіоніст
    • Filming locations
      • Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
    • Production companies
      • Pathé
      • Django Films
      • Ciné B
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,231,474
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $38,594
      • Dec 26, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,007,194
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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