The Screen Illusion

Contemporary retelling of the French theater classic L’Illusion comique sees both the farcical and dramatic aspects of the original faithfully transposed to the comings and goings at a luxurious modern day hotel.

Mathieu Amalric spirits Corneille’s canonic 17th-century French theatre classic, L’Illusion comique, to contemporary realms in this inventive cinema treat set in the luxurious Hôtel de Louvre.

From his lair in the hotel basement, Alcandre, a wizard in the original play, here ingeniously transformed into the hotel’s concierge, can observe on CCTV the many comings and goings, from past, present and even future, in the establishment. Pridamant, concerned about his wayward son, Clindor, seeks Alcandre’s help and soon discovers that Clindor is PA to Matamore, a grandly delusional computer game creator. Both men are involved with Isabelle, who has been promised by her father to another… Farcical and dramatic complications ensue.

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