FILM: The Illusionist (2006)

We live in a secular world in which phenomena ranging from natural disasters to personality tics are expected to have scientific, or Materialistic, explanations. If something seems mysterious or uncanny, we say: the explanation exists; we just don't know it yet. Although this is, rationally speaking, our worldview, some of us have an intuition that the world isn't exactly quite like that. It is to us that The Illusionist appeals. For two blissful hours we are allowed to be in denial of life's overwhelming probabilities. We can believe wholeheartedly that two childhood sweethearts can reunite for life; that a relationship can cross class lines and last; that some magic tricks might come from the supernatural; and that good defeats evil in the end, in this case through the failproof combination of clever wit and strong love. The extraordinary cinematography (what lighting!), costumes, and set design make your suspension of disbelief especially easy and sweet. Other movies may try to be about something, but the satisfaction in this film is all about the pleasure of the viewer's leap of faith.