Dirs; Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano | France 119′
Camille Cottin and Louis Garrel star in this 1980s comedy crowd-pleaser from directing duo Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano (best known for Untouchable (2012) one of the most successful film in the French language across Europe and, of all time, in Germany).
Just an Illusion is unlikely to garner that accolade but it nevertheless exudes the same breezy charm and positivity. Here the human struggle is outwardly less obvious but understanble for Vincent Dayan, a 12 year old Jewish boy, who navigates life between his truculent older brother and his volatile parents: Yves (Garrel) and Sandrine (Cottin). Originally from the Magreb, they have spent most of their lives in France, and now occupy a small flat on the outskirts of Paris, where Yves has just lost his job.
Just An Illusion never takes itself too seriously, there are highs and lows as the drama unfolds in a series of incidents, rather than a recognisable plot, but the charismatic performances from Cottin and Garrel and particularly Simon Boublil, as Vincent, add texture and emotional weight to what otherwise would just be another domestic drama, and this, along with the tunes, makes it all the more watchable.
Music-wise the film leans heavily on a mix of original score and recognisable tracks of the era, including Imagination’s titular hit ‘Just an Illusion’, but also ‘Georgy Porgy’ from Toto, ‘Eye in the Sky’ from The Alan Parsons Project, among others. These songs aren’t just background—they actively drive the narrative forward adding resonance to each sequence. There’s a natural fit between the often dreamy, slightly melancholic tone of the music and the story of adolescence, confusion, and emotional discovery.
So humour tinged with poignancy is very much the order of the day. Despite Vincent’s feeling of awkwardness in growing up: the small but intense emotions, the sense that everything matters even when you don’t fully understand why, always seem to come with a sense of endearing warmth, amusement even.
Just An Illusion is gentle rather than confrontational, touching on family tension, arguments and identity, but rarely pushing those conflicts too far, the music somehow smoothing-out any friction, and that makes it all the more enjoyable. A likeable film, then, with a distinct emotional texture and and a definite nostalgia for the era.
NOW IN FRENCH CINEMAS