For its next feature, the Vernon Film Society has chosen the Academy Award nominee The Illusionist.
Those of you who enjoyed the unusual animation displayed in The Triplets of Belleville will get a second chance to see the work of Sylvain Chomet, a French comic writer, animator, and film director who used to live in Montreal, but is back living in France.
The movie is based on a script that Jacques Tati wrote in 1956 and stars an animated version of Tati himself named Tatischeff, Jacques Tati’s real name.
Tatischeff is a failed magician, sadly out of date with his rabbit and top hat, who is forced to share the stage with Beatle-like rock ‘n’ rollers.
On a tour of the Scottish Highlands, he picks up a poor young woman named Alice (probably representing one of Tati’s daughters) who, convinced that his magic is real, persuades Tatischeff to visit Edinburgh.
They remain in the city, lodging in a crumbling hotel with other old-time music hall performers – a ventriloquist, acrobats, and a sad clown.
Edinburgh becomes almost a star in itself as the animator renders the city bleak, but beautiful.
The Illusionist does not offer subtitles, but there’s no need for them as what little dialogue there is, is obvious in intent.
Reviewer Amy Biancolli, in a San Francisco Chronicle review, stated: “Chomet fills (the plot) with the hope of youth and the dark romance of a man coming to terms with his own disappearance.”
The Illusionist plays at the Town Cinema, Monday. April 18 at 5:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $7 and are available at the theatre and the Bean Scene one week prior to the film. Theatre doors open at 4:15 p.m.
