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| The Urania National Theatre, Rakoczi ut. 21 |
Last night, Boone, Aidan, Victor, Gabor and I met in Pest at the Urania National Theatre to view Sylvain Chomet's latest animation piece, "The Illusionist". Both the theatre and the film were a treat for the eyes, heart, and soul.
The Urania looks humble enough from the street. The facade offers a hint of the lavish and elegant Moorish/Art Deco design within. We arrived last night just a rain was turning to snow, the moment was a piece of fleeting and delicious anticipation...
For inside the doors, as we scanned the room for our friends, my boys and I were met with the rich blue and gold interior foyer, walls adorned with gorgeous Islamic symmetry, seductively lit, and abuzz with the voices of film lovers from all over the world.
Once inside, you really feel as if you are treating yourself to something very special indeed. Victor pointed out that the vibe of the place is similar to our beloved, old Crystal Theatre back in Missoula. Indeed, he was correct. The denizens of the Urania, including us, of course, were similar to those who frequented The Crystal...bohemians, hipsters, humble art lovers of all ages.
The Urania is truly a Hungarian national treasure and any visitor to Budapest should make a point of seeing a movie there. The theatre features films that defy Hollywood formula and stereotype which makes it especially attractive to film buffs.
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| inside the theatre proper, where art lovers gather to savor creativity |
After grabbing some water and chips, we headed into the screening hall, balconies surrounding, and located our assigned seats. Within ten minutes, the curtian lifted...the screen showed about two minutes of Anilogue Film Festival information then went straight to the feature. No agonizing trailers or relentless advertisment.
Sylvain Chomet is a a French animator and film director. He became fairly well known stateside for his delightful feature "The Triplets of Belleville", a moving story of pain (physical and spiritual), perserverence, and good versus evil. The main characters are humble, poor, dear, and an example of what is lost to society at large due to poverty and over-indulgence.
"The Illusionist", much different that "Triplets", deals with similar themes. Like "Triplets", there is very little dialogue, for in these films such a thing is not needed. The movements and expressions of the characters, as well as the gorgeous imagery, say much more than words could ever do.
The story takes place in Scotland, mostly Edinburgh, at the end of the fifties, beginning of the sixties. An aging magician travels from France to the UK with his endearing but increasingly dated performance, complete with chubby, snapping rabbit and sleight of hand props. He lands in Scotland at a small highland pub where a young girl becomes fascinated with him, believing that he is truly able to conjure magic. When he leaves for Edinburgh, the girl stows away to follow him, and they end up together in an old hotel, where he basically cares for her (and she for him) among a crew of sweet but sad and washed up vaudevillians.
Throughout the story, it is clear that the girl continues to be convinced that the magician simply conjures up whatever they need, whatever she wants. She is an endearing innocent, who truly loves the fatherly old man, and he does his best to preserve that innocence, through whatever means necessary.
It soon becomes apparent that the illusion of their friendship, of what the girl feels is real, must fall away due to inevitable change. He watches this change unfold, worldy-wise as he is. Even as she experiences the change, she seems to pass through it, unaware of what is happening.
Gabor offered the perfect word to describe the ending of this film, and really, the mood of the entire piece..."Bittersweet."
Not only is "The Illusionist" a wonderful story, whose original screenplay was written by the venerable French comic, Jaques Tati (and who the character of the magician is based), the animation is rich, emotional, evocative, absolutely gorgeous. The scenes in Edinburgh fairly tug at the heart for their beauty (Gabor said the depiction is quite accurate). The final scenes in a particular...a book left in a moonlit room, the shadow of its pages, ruffled by the wind, printed upon a wall, white rabbits hopping contentedly atop a green cliff with Edinburgh in the background, the girl and her new friend, shielding themselves from the oncoming rain with the beautiful coat the magician has given her, walking against a crowd of umbrellas....are the ones I will carry in my memory for years to come.
Do treat yourself to "The Illusionist". In this day of soulless computer animation. films like this provide the perfect tonic to the formulaic, predictable, thoughtless tripe that Hollywood continues to regurgitate. x
