Film commentary: The perfect magic
A very beautiful animation about magic that can also remind you of a mime show.One of the rare short films in our selection for young children on the theme of loneliness and exclusion.
Interview with the director
Discover the dreamlike world of Wan-Jung HsiaoQuestioning the film: The perfect magic
Understand the story, the theme, express your sensibility and exercise your critical mind.One of the challenges of interpreting the film is to formulate its multiple thematic tracks, in particular:
- the extraordinary and the banal, the transformation of one into the other (the wear and tear of the gaze);
- magic as unexplained / magic as a technique for manipulating the spectator (see Christopher Nolan's film The Prestige, 2006, on this theme);
- indifference and social relegation.
The economy of the mise en scène should not be overlooked: how a minimum of features manage to suggest a lot (choice of viewing angles, distortions of perspective, exploitation of shadows, iconicity of set elements, gestures, etc.).
The film's director is Chinese; it is interesting to list the borrowings from American silent burlesque cinema: black and white, expressive accompanying music, costumes and set elements from the beginning of the twentieth century, the theme of the unlucky street performer, etc. Among the visual references, we can also mention the works of Jean-Michel Folon sharing the same imagination (TV credits, sculpture Someone...).
1 Why are the spectators not amazed by the magician's tricks?
Because they have already seen the tricks many times.Because they don't look like magic.
2 What ismagic?
When something happens that cannot be explained rationally.When someone makes you believe it.
3 Who does the magic tricks: the magician or his hat?
We expect the magician to do the tricks.But in the film we see that he is surprised by what the hat does on its own.
4 Isthe magician like the other passers-by or different?Does this change in the course of the film?
He looks like the others, but no one is looking at him (and he needs this look to live). Graduallypeople turn away from him.
5 Where does the film take place? At what time of day?How do we know?
In a street or public space in town (street furniture). It isthe end of the day (long shadows).
6 Is iteasy to read the character's emotions?How do we understand them?
We can understand his hope, joy, disappointment, irritation, surprise, etc., thanks to his facial features and gestures.
7 Does the end of the film explain anything?
No. The character simply changes and leaves.But everyone can imagine a reason.
8 What does the magician have in common with Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Oliver Hardy?
Theyareslightly awkward, lonely characters who often live on the streets and are mocked by others.
Download the PDF of the film's educational activities
Created with the support of the French Ministry of Education and the CNC.Watch the film with your family, educational activities with parents at home and with teachers in the classroom.
There's a trick to this! (Questioning the world) (Cycle 2 and 3)
Pedagogical activities proposed by Bruno Pellier based on the film The perfect magic.
Enquête dans la rue (Questionner le monde) (Cycle 2 and 3)
Pedagogical activities proposed by Bruno Pellier based on the film The perfect magic.
Discover other pedagogical sheets created with the support of the French Ministry of National Education and the CNC...
Theme
Civic and moral educationGenre and keywords
Narrative, magic, magician, exclusion, difference, tolerance, loneliness, dance.Recommended age
3 years.Parental control.
Duration
5 min 11 s.Title
The perfect magicDirected by
Wan-Jung HsiaoProduction
School Taipei National University of the Arts in 2014, Taiwan
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