The Illusionist 2010
This French animation film is about over the top Parisian illusionist who, after a dull performance in Paris, tries his luck in London. Not getting much of a standing ovation in a theatre there, he captures the heart of a drunken Scotsman in a private dinner. He performs high up in the Highlands on the Scotsman's invitation in a simple pub. For a short while, the going was good until a jukebox took the lime-light.
A simple minded young washer lady befriends him and follows him to Edinburgh for his next gig. After a few uninspiring performances, his savings took a dip as he tried to keep his female companion happy by buying her expensive coat and shoes. The relationship is more of a father-daughter relationship due to the age disparity but this type of things you can never say, especially when no words are spoken - he sleeps on the couch, if that helps!
To make ends meet, he leaves her lonely in the hotel room with only his trick rabbit for company whilst he works as an illusionist to an uninspired crowd and as a part time garage attendant. It was during this lonely evenings in the chilly Edinburgh that she starts getting fancy with a dashing bloke staying across her room.
She falls for him. The disappointed magician, after sighting them together, leaves town after his contract expires only after leaving his only other creature that he loved, the trick rabbit in the meadows. He leaves town leaving a note for the girl who looked up at him believing in his magic which said, "Magicians do not exist!"
On his train trip away from Edinburgh, he keeps himself busy trying to entertain a bored child. I guess, an illusionist's job never ends....
It is a pantomime with a smatter of French. You do not need subtitles to follow the story line. The familiar brilliantly crafted animation of the detailed landscape of Waverly Station of Edinburgh, High Street and the gravel stone paved roads of the Royal Mile struck a chord of familiarity and nostalgia to me of those cold long nights that I spent in the winter of '94 trying to change the fate of the descendant of Sungai Pinang and F-Block!
A simple minded young washer lady befriends him and follows him to Edinburgh for his next gig. After a few uninspiring performances, his savings took a dip as he tried to keep his female companion happy by buying her expensive coat and shoes. The relationship is more of a father-daughter relationship due to the age disparity but this type of things you can never say, especially when no words are spoken - he sleeps on the couch, if that helps!
To make ends meet, he leaves her lonely in the hotel room with only his trick rabbit for company whilst he works as an illusionist to an uninspired crowd and as a part time garage attendant. It was during this lonely evenings in the chilly Edinburgh that she starts getting fancy with a dashing bloke staying across her room.
She falls for him. The disappointed magician, after sighting them together, leaves town after his contract expires only after leaving his only other creature that he loved, the trick rabbit in the meadows. He leaves town leaving a note for the girl who looked up at him believing in his magic which said, "Magicians do not exist!"
On his train trip away from Edinburgh, he keeps himself busy trying to entertain a bored child. I guess, an illusionist's job never ends....
It is a pantomime with a smatter of French. You do not need subtitles to follow the story line. The familiar brilliantly crafted animation of the detailed landscape of Waverly Station of Edinburgh, High Street and the gravel stone paved roads of the Royal Mile struck a chord of familiarity and nostalgia to me of those cold long nights that I spent in the winter of '94 trying to change the fate of the descendant of Sungai Pinang and F-Block!
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| The Royal Mile |
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| Simpson Memorial Hospital, Lauriston Place. |
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| North Bridge - Waverly Station, Edinburgh |
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| Waverly Station, Edinburgh. |
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