MovieChat Forums > L'illusionniste (2011) Discussion > Plot questions

Plot questions

posted 14 years ago by rbnn
2 replies | jump to latest

I'm a bit unclear on the plot:

1. There was a scene where the illusionist was seemingly given a wad of cash. This was after he had lost his cash at the car wash. What was that about?

2. Why did he lose his job at the department store window?

3. There was something with the someone trying to give him a shirt or a jacket, just before he finds out he's been replaced in the department store window. What is that about?

4. It seemed like he was auditioning for another role, where he turns the drink into water. Then the drunk fellow shows up, and there is a cut to the car. What happened in the audition? Why didn't he get it?

5. How does he expect the girl to survive when he leaves?

6. Why did he hide from the girl and her boyfriend, behind the coat-rack?

7. In the car wash, wasn't the driver's side window down, and so wouldn't the interior have gotten soaked in the rain? (And would rain really wash off oil?)

[–] Vashbul 14 years ago

I'll take a crack at a couple of these.

2, 3. He didn't lose his job, he quit after one day because he found using his talent to produce ladies' undergarments and such too humiliating. He refused to take the jacket because he wouldn't be talked into returning.
5. I suspect he knew their arrangement needed to come to an end - his note to her was his way of cutting her loose. She'd grown and doubtless he knew she was ready to make her own way in the world.
6. Perhaps in his fatherly way he just wanted give the young folks their space.
7. It was cartoon oil.

[–] Hugehuw 14 years ago

Just too add my twopence to this;

1. Money was given to him by his "agent" as a cut for his work at the Edinburgh music hall. We see the agent pocket the bulk of it so he has has just taken advantage of Tati

4. Just a guess, but the drunk Scotsman was one of the only characters who demonstrates any warmth or appreciation towards the illusionists art during the movie. I think they basically just got steaming drunk together.

6. Because he didn't want to deal with the situation. This was his moment of realisation that that the girl no longer needed him, and perhaps that he didn't want her to follow his life?