The Illusionist

In 2004, when I was New York, I got to see a brilliant Oscar nominated animated film 'The Triplets Of Belleville'. It was an amazing film with a wonderfully funny story. This is the director Sylvain Chomet's follow up to that.

Sylvain has made an animated film out from a live action script by French filmmaker Jacques Tati. It is about an old style magician who is having trouble finding gigs because of the popularity of an emerging rock band. Along the way he forms a friendship with a girl who admires his old fashioned magic.


I think that after I fell in love with 'Triplets' I had really high expectations for this film. Most of the SFF films I see, I don't see a trailer or know all that much about them, except what I read in the program or what little I have read online. It is kind of refreshing to know very little about a film before seeing it. It can however mean you can be disappointed. Do not get me wrong this is an excellent film it was just very different from what I was expecting. There is not as much story as 'Triplets' and it is far more dramatic. Sylvain does keep one of my favourite aspects though which is to use virtually no dialogue. There is more in this film but it's used sparingly. One of the great things is the 2D animation. It has become a bit of a novelty to see that form now because we're so used to 3D animation. Regardless of that though there is a very sweet story here. We are seeing a man struggle to make it in a world that is changing so fast around him. I think I'll need to see it again and try to not have any preconceptions.


Not all animation is for children and the ones that aren't don't have to be dirty. They can be sweet and thought provoking with some child like qualities. Kids may not find this thrilling though so indulge yourself in quality animation that can tell a great story.