An absolute little gem. I fell in love with Edinburgh all over again watching this wonderful, beautiful film, losing myself in the watercolour-life quality of its design.
Slow paced and almost totally devoid of dialogue, this is not cinema for those who crave special effects and gharish overblown fanfares of noise and lights. This a quiet, understated yet perfectly formed cinematographic masterpiece. The animation is utterly ravishing, exquisite in its wondrous look at a vanishing world of variety entertainers, a poignant elegy to a more innocent time. It flutters, light as as air, all at once touching and gently humorous.
The perfect antidote to any blockbuster, The Illusionist is delicately crafted and its deceptive simplicity belies a great heart and true art. There is not one still of this movie I would not be prepared to put on my wall. Each frame more lovingly drawn than the previous, each a sheer delight of subtle delicate beauty. There is real poetry here and screen magic.
Based on a Jacques Tati script written for his daughter, its protagonist obviously a version of its author, the film soft and sharp all at once. Sylvain Chaumet's love of Scotland and the glorious city of Edinburgh is evident in every shot, an affectionate and vivid visual account of Auld Reekie.
This is a seemingly unassuming movie which ticks all the right boxes. It exudes warmth, character and is pure joy to look at. It will make you smile but also make you feel and the little lump in your throat will be a worthy price to pay for the sheer pleasure of watching true cinematographic art at its very best. Modest and quiet, it whispers rather than screams at you, it is bewitching, charming and simply superb on all levels.
Slow paced and almost totally devoid of dialogue, this is not cinema for those who crave special effects and gharish overblown fanfares of noise and lights. This a quiet, understated yet perfectly formed cinematographic masterpiece. The animation is utterly ravishing, exquisite in its wondrous look at a vanishing world of variety entertainers, a poignant elegy to a more innocent time. It flutters, light as as air, all at once touching and gently humorous.
The perfect antidote to any blockbuster, The Illusionist is delicately crafted and its deceptive simplicity belies a great heart and true art. There is not one still of this movie I would not be prepared to put on my wall. Each frame more lovingly drawn than the previous, each a sheer delight of subtle delicate beauty. There is real poetry here and screen magic.
Based on a Jacques Tati script written for his daughter, its protagonist obviously a version of its author, the film soft and sharp all at once. Sylvain Chaumet's love of Scotland and the glorious city of Edinburgh is evident in every shot, an affectionate and vivid visual account of Auld Reekie.
This is a seemingly unassuming movie which ticks all the right boxes. It exudes warmth, character and is pure joy to look at. It will make you smile but also make you feel and the little lump in your throat will be a worthy price to pay for the sheer pleasure of watching true cinematographic art at its very best. Modest and quiet, it whispers rather than screams at you, it is bewitching, charming and simply superb on all levels.