The Illusionist (2010)
A French illusionist travels to Scotland to work. He meets a young woman in a small village. Their ensuing adventure in Edinburgh changes both their lives forever.
Details
Budget
$18,000,000
Rating
7/10 (620 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Django Films, France 3 Cinéma, Ciné B, Pathé
About The Illusionist
The Illusionist is an animated drama from 2010 that follows a French illusionist's journey to Scotland. He encounters a young woman in a small village, and their subsequent experiences in Edinburgh bring significant changes to both their lives.
The film explores themes of disillusionment and features elements of stage magic, focusing on the relationship between a magician and a young adult. It has an 80-minute runtime and has received generally positive reception, with a 7.4 IMDb rating, a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 82/100 on Metacritic. The animation style contributes to its artistic presentation, offering a visually distinct narrative.
Key aspects of the film include its setting in Edinburgh, Scotland, and its portrayal of the challenges faced by a traditional performer in a changing world. The story develops into an adult-child friendship, which is central to the plot. The film also includes an after-credits stinger.
Why you might be searching for The Illusionist
People often search for this movie based on its magical themes and specific plot points involving a journalist's death and resurrection by a magician, or a story about two magicians named Max and Hugo. The distinctive hand signals used for creating magic, like multiplying swords or flicking cards, are also memorable details that prompt searches.
What reviewers are saying
One reviewer considered it a fitting follow-up to Jacques Tati's films, noting its ability to convey emotion without relying on dialogue and praising its artistic style.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream *The Illusionist* on Netflix or rent/buy it on Amazon Video. [netflix.com](https://www.netflix.com/jp-en/title/70134430)
*The Illusionist* is based on an unproduced script from 1956 by French filmmaker Jacques Tati, which was written as a personal letter to his estranged eldest daughter. [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illusionist_(2010_film))
At the end of *The Illusionist*, the illusionist sees Alice with a new boyfriend, prompting him to leave her money and a note stating, "Magicians do not exist." He then frees his rabbit and departs on a train. [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illusionist_(2010_film))
*The Illusionist* has received critical acclaim, holding a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim." [rottentomatoes.com](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_illusionist-2009) [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illusionist_(2010_film))