The Illusionist (2010) : A magical animated film about the relationship between father and daughter.
The Illusionist (2010) directed by Sylvian Chomet is an underrated animated film that engrosses you in its magical and sometimes bleak world. The story taken from an original screenplay written by the legendary comedian Jacques Tati. He wrote this story as a love letter to his own daughter. Later the script was passed on to Chomet who with his experience in the animated field turned this into a heart-warming animation.
The story revolves around a struggling magician/illusionist named Tatischeff who is not able to find success in the ever-growing show business that is taken off with more reputable and bankable shows with modern rock bands and dramas. Leaving him desperately to work anywhere he goes to a small Island in Scotland where he finds a gig at a pub. There with its vibrant crowd he finds some success but also a young maid at the bar named Alice who he makes acquaintance with, and she believes in the magic of Tati. Tati finds that she is of a poor condition and not with much attire (he observes her shoes are torn) so he buys her a good pair of shoes and magically makes it appear. This makes Alice join Tati in his journey and life. They bond as of father and daughter and the essence is of this relationship.
There is something profound about the illusionist. It represents some magic in a sometimes-bleak setting with characters that are quirky, fantastical, and illusionary in nature. The story as intended to be of live action has gotten a blessing to be in animation form as the story is enlightened through the magic of the medium. The animation is stunning and mesmerizing to look at. The design of the characters feel organic to the medium like the stout and tall and long stride body language of Tati feels much like him and its representation is fantastic to look at.
The atmosphere and landscapes with its side characters are interesting to perceive. Like for example, the three similar acrobatics who always say ‘hup, hup, hup’ while jumping around or the ventriloquist who lives alone at the same apartment that Tati and Alice live. He gives a warm welcome to Alice with his persisting puppet that looks like him or the sad and life misery going clown that is introduced with comic relief. These characters of quirkiness would have been prevented in any other format.
The relationship between Tati and Alice is illuminative. There bond is gradual and the scenes in which Tati does everything to make her a better life by earning extra money besides his gigs like working on a late-night shift at a garage. He buys a beautiful pair of white shoes and pretty coat for Alice where she wears it with Joy. Alice is a character that is enthusiastic of the world of Paris and the people and its dresses. Her seclusion and poorness could be a catalyst for this. She befriends the ventriloquist and the clown by cooking up food for them. Especially the scene when the clown tries to end his life the food brings him joy. That scene was particularly melancholic and lively. These small aspects of characters and world building brings out an illusionary effect with magic.
Jacques Tati is regarded as a legend in cinema history. With films of comic gold like "Mr. Hulot’s Holiday" (1953), "Mon Oncle" (1958), "Playtime" (1967). His films always dealt with silent comedy that transfuses modernity with its satirical causes. He was a mimic, and his work is one that should not be missed out and the likes with taste of Chaplin or Keaton should give Tatis films a look into.
Like the director quoted himself "It's not a romance, it's more the relationship between a dad and a daughter." This film explores that relationship with beautiful and smooth animation. The director creates a melancholic tale with a world of magic, mystery and illusion in just a short run time. Do not miss this one out.