In turn-of-the-century Vienna, beautiful aristocrat Sophie Von Teschen (Jessica Biel) is pushed to appear onstage with magician-of-the-moment Eisenheim (Edward Norton, pictured) by her vain fiancé, Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell).
What Leopold doesn't know is that Sophie and Eisenheim were childhood sweethearts, but there's no mistaking the sparks that fly when the two are reunited during the performance. His suspicions aroused, Leopold orders police inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) to discredit Eisenheim, but the more he discovers about Eisenheim, the more Uhl comes to believe that the magic man has a real gift.
Despite being somewhat overshadowed by the release of Christopher Nolan's high-gloss magic drama The Prestige, Burger's film should not be overlooked.
Norton and Giamatti may not have the super powers of Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale to attract a blockbuster-loving audience, but they know how to pull a fine performance out of the hat. A beautiful example of first-rate film-making.
The Illusionist is a Film programme that first aired in 2006 and has been classified a PG certificate.
