The Illusionist | Official Trailer (2010)

A script for THE ILLUSIONIST was originally written by French comedy genius and cinema legend Jacques Tati as a love letter from a father to his daughter, but never produced. Sylvain Chomet, the Oscar-nominated and critically acclaimed creator of The Triplets of Belleville, adapted the script and brought it to life in his distinctive hand-drawn animated style.

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. Then, while performing in a village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever.
Watching his performance for the excited villagers who are celebrating the arrival of electricity on their remote island, Alice is awestruck by his show and believes his tricks are real magic. Though they don‟t speak the same language, the two lonely strangers quickly bond through small kindnesses. Fascinated by The Illusionist, Alice stows away on his departing ship and follows him to Edinburgh. There, they quickly fall into a father -- daughter relationship, with Alice keeping their home at a boarding house for vaudevillians, while he goes to work in a small local theatre.
3
Enchanted by her enthusiasm for his act, The Illusionist rewards Alice with increasingly lavish gifts he has 'conjured' into existence. Desperate not to disappoint her, he cannot bring himself to reveal that magic does not exist and that he‟s driving himself to ruin working all night jobs to buy her gifts.
As The Illusionist grows older, Alice grows up. She falls in love with a young man and is no longer so enchanted by The Illusionist‟s conjuring. She moves on with her life, and The Illusionist no longer has to pretend. Untangled from his own web of deceit, he resumes his life as a much wiser man.

[b.garcia]

I love this film so much. It has a charm that is lost in popular mainstream art. This... THIS is art.

[blago]

The only thing I did not like about this movie is how misleading the trailer was. The trailer looks lighthearted and optimistic, while the movie is actually extremely melancholic and very deeply depressing.
Yet exactly this capability to touch the deepest parts of the beholder's soul is what defines one masterpiece as such. And yes - this movie is a masterpiece.

[marieseltenrych]

This is an extraordinary movie. I watched it to the end on Sunday. So few words and such a poignant message alone its journey. The animation is beautiful and I am stunned that I never saw this movie before. I can only imagine the thousands and even millions of hours it took to bring it to this high level. If magicians did not exist we would never have this movie, so glad they do!

[makodad]

Watch this If you want to be sad for a week thinking about it.

[Spencer]

One of the movies I come back to when I'm in a wistful sad mood and want something artful and beautiful to express that.

[devpashupati]

After a decade I rewatched it just now and yes it's emotionally rich. It never gets old.

[tesscrelli]

I loved this man's rabbit. It wasn't even a main part of the movie but I just wanted to come here to express it. It's animated really well and I loved its character. And then the end of the movie happened. :(

[RollyAces]

Absolutely loved The Triplets Of Belleville, mad I barley found out about this.

[lavendermarshmallowplant]

I love how non of the characters here look the same. As in, it doesn't have same face syndrome. Even the extras.

[chocolatekyppcookie]

I’ve gone to a couple of local events with amateur writers who love filmmaking. The question is always “what’s something you currently watched that you adore?” And every time my answer is this one. ❤

[billlupin]

This movie was so goddamn depressing. Don't get me wrong, it's a good movie, it's just so sad.

[samsudtabrin]

I watched this 10 years ago, when I was 15. It was soo soo cold that I still come back to it just to see the agony of the illusionist for losing the girl. That man is so lonely it still kills my heart

[CrazyCannibalClown]

Just thinking about the ending to this wonderful film is enough to make me tear up. 

[MaximumRD]

My wife and I watched this today, a BEAUTIFULLY animated film. The animation conveyed everything, very little dialogue, it was stunning detailed movie that made you feel like you were at the locations and settings as much as any real life movie could. Very enjoyable, a nice piece of artwork.

[hecubot]

A masterpiece. Such a gorgeous film, and a valentine to Scotland too.

[curiousgeorge]

Tonight I watched this movie for the third time and still managed to notice new things I'd never noticed before. I really adore this movie - every frame is so beautiful, many themes and character lines being followed throughout, little comedy here and there. It's one of my favourites. Chomet did a great job with this one!

[Nox.INkRecords]

I absolutely loved this movie.
Yes, it's not all butterflies and rainbows. But, it has got Heart.

[kennethcorless]

Chomet's style is just so beautiful and amazing.

[lavendertownlauren]

I simply adored the 2006 "The Illusionist" 
Just discovered this one!!!!

[tanks]

Beautiful movie and one of the most emotionally touching I’ve ever seen but I can’t help thinking this trailer could be 100 times better if it represented that rather than just bunching a load of clips