We are almost halfway through the second week of 2012, yet the feelings of hope and joy for the New Year still linger in the air. So what better way to prolong that cheerful spirit than with an animated French film?

This coming Thursday, January 12th, the Alliance Française de Washington will treat its cinema-loving audiences with the screening of L’illusionniste (2010), a heart-warming film directed by Sylvain Chomet (also acclaimed for his first feature-length animated film, Les Triplettes de Belleville).

The screenplay for L’illusionniste is based on a semi-autobiographical script that was written by Jacques Tati between 1956 and 1959, but never produced. By then, Tati had already released his first major feature, Jour de fête (1949), followed by his second film Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953). Five years later, Tati would continue this trail of fame with his first film in color, Mon Oncle (1958).

The exact reason for why Tati did not go about bringing L’illusionniste to life on the screen is unknown, although many have speculated that it is related to the complex relationship he had with his two daughters. Chomet’s film sheds light on an important period in Tati’s own personal life through the portrayal of the profound love that can thrive between a father and a daughter.

With an entrancing trip through the charming scenery of Europe in the 1950s and a memorable soundtrack, the animated film tells the story of an oddly charismatic French illusionist who finds himself struggling to make ends meet. Wishing not to leave behind his career, he travels to Scotland for a show and there crosses paths with a young woman named Alice. Just as it appears that the illusionist himself is losing hope, Alice’s endearing naïveté leads him to restore his belief in the eternal magic of life.

When: Thursday, January 12th

Where: Letelier Theatre (3251 Prospect Street, Upper Courtyard, Washington, DC)

Admission:
General: $9
AF Student Members, WIFV members, Students and Seniors: $4
Individual AF Members: FREE.

For more information on the film: http://lillusionniste-lefilm.com/
For more information on upcoming screenings: www.francedc.org