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Without a word of dialogue from beginning to end, The Illusionist relies on entrancing photography, a tour-de-force performance by its lead actors, and effective action scenes to keep audiences fascinated by the story of an older brother who is a magician, trying to save his younger brother (Jim Van Der Woude) from a long internment in a mental hospital. The "illusionist" is an anal-retentive personality, hanging on to the material things for dear life -- but he loves his brother (who has Down Syndrome) and in spite of the restrictions of his puritanical family background, he is determined to rescue him from a life away from home and hearth. This film received the 1983 Netherlands' top national film award.