The Illusionist (2006)
The Duchess von Teschen is invited by the audience to perform an illusion with Eisenheim in late nineteenth-century Vienna. Although they have not been together in 15 years since they were teens, almost instantly they recognize one another as Eduard Abramovich or Sophie von Teschen. Their class differences led to a tragic romance. Soon, the Duchess will be married to Crown Prince Leopold. This would be a marriage solely for power, which would include overthrowing Emperor Leopold and taking over the Hungarian part of the empire. If it is necessary or appropriate, the Crown Prince has a history of using violence against women. The Duchess realizes she loves Eisenheim, and that he him, but cannot leave Eisenheim without putting her life at risk. The battle between Eisenheim, who humiliated the Crown Prince in a private performance, leads to an altercation between the Crown Princess and the Duchess. This incident, many believe, demonstrates Eisenheim’s supernatural abilities. Chief Inspector Uhl is responsible for much of Eisenheim’s work. He would later become Chief of Police during the reign of the Crown Prince. Uhl could have ulterior motives for turning a blindeye to the unlawful acts of Eisenheim and the Duchess. –Huggo
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller
Director: Neil Burger
Actors: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Eddie Marsan, Edward Norton, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell
Country: Czech Republic, United States
