The Illusionist is a 2006 English-language period drama film written and directed by Neil Burger and starring Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, and Paul Giamatti. It is based loosely on Steven Millhauser's short story, "Eisenheim the Illusionist". The Illusionist tells the story of Eisenheim, a magician in turn-of-the-20th-century Vienna who uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing. The film premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and opened the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival; it was distributed in limited release to theaters on August 18, 2006,... and expanded nationwide on September 1. The film, which contains both fictional and historical characters, begins in medias res as Chief Inspector Walter Uhl moves to arrest Eisenheim during what appears to be necromancy passed off as a magic show. He then begins to recount the story of Eisenheim for Crown Prince Leopold . Eisenheim was born the son of a cabinetmaker in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. One day as a teenager, Eisenheim meets a traveling magician along a road who performs several tricks for him.
more
| Release date: | April 27, 2006 |
| Directed by: | Neil Burger |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 110 Minutes |
| Producer: | Brian Koppelman, Cathy Schulman, Bob Yari, David Levien, Michael London |
| Editor: | Naomi Geraghty, Naomi Geraghty |
| Music by: | Philip Glass |
| Cinematography: | Dick Pope |
| Screenplay by: | Neil Burger |
| Estimated budget: | $17,000,000 |
| Adapted from: | Eisenheim the Illusionist |
| Genre: | Adventure, Fantasy, Thriller |