The Illusionist (2010 film)

The Illusionist French LIllusionniste is a 2010 FrenchScottish animated comedydrama film directed by Sylvain Chomet. The film is based on an unproduced script written by French mime, director and actor Jacques Tati in 1956. Controversy surrounds Tatis motivation for the script, which was written as a personal letter to his estranged eldest daughter, Helga MarieJeanne Schiel in collaboration with his longterm writing partner Henri Marquet, between writing for the films Mon Oncle and Play Time.

The story is set in 1959 and is told with only a few brief snatches of dialogue, much of it in Gaelic. A downonhisluck illusionist known by his stage name, Tatischeff watches his popularity and employment in Paris dry up. He packs his meager belongings and props, including an illtempered white rabbit, and moves to London. There he finds himself as the irrelevant act following a popular rock band. Despite his wounded pride, he adopts a nothingtolose attitude and continues plying his trade at yet smaller gatherings in bars, cafs, and private parties.He accepts the invitation of a drunken party patron, taking a long, slow journey to a remote Scottish island Iona in the Inner Hebrides. The small villages pub has only recently been wired for electricity, and he and his rabbit are appreciated for a time. Living modestly in a room above the pub, the illusionist encounters a young girl named Alice who is captivated by his otherworldly abilities and kind gestures, including a gift of new red shoes. Competition from more modern forms of entertainment follow the illusionist even to this idyll, and he soon moves on. ........

Source: Wikipedia