The illusionist

Vienna, Austria-Hungary, 1889. The film begins in medias res as Chief Inspector
Walter Uhl (Paul Giamatti) of the Vienna Police announces the arrest of Eisenheim
(Edward Norton) during what appears to be necromancy passed off as a magic show.
Later, he recounts the story of Eisenheim's life for Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus
Sewell).
Eisenheim was born the son of a peasant cabinetmaker in a rural village.
One day as a teenager, Eisenheim (Aaron Johnson) meets a traveling magician
who performs several tricks for him. Eisenheim becomes obsessed with magic
tricks after this. He also falls in love with Sophie, the Duchess von
Teschen (Eleanor Tomlinson), a noblewoman well above his social class.
Although the two are forbidden to see each other, they meet secretly until at last
they are caught and forcefully separated.
Eisenheim then leaves home and travels the world, perfecting his craft.
He returns to Vienna years later as a master illusionist. He again meets the
adult Sophie (Jessica Biel) at one of his performances, when she is volunteered
by Crown Prince Leopold as a reluctant participant in an illusion. He soon
learns that Sophie is expected to marry the Crown Prince, whose "Progressive
sympathies" mask a rumored history of brutality towards women. After
humiliating the Crown Prince during a private show, Eisenheim finds his hit
performance banned from Vienna.
When Sophie comes to offer him help, they argue vitriolically before
surrendering to their feelings and making love. Eisenheim suggests that they
flee the Empire together. Sophie, however, explains that it is not so easy. The
Crown Prince is planning a coup d'etat to usurp the Crown of Austria from his
elderly father, the Emperor Franz Joseph I. He plans to use his engagement to
her to win the Hungarian half of the Empire as well. Horrified, Eisenheim
warns that such a plot could easily turn out very badly for her. Sophie also says
that, if she leaves Leopold or otherwise obstructs his plot, the Crown Prince will
have them both hunted to the ends of the earth and murdered. Although aware
of the risk, Eisenheim asks whether she really wants to leave with him. Without
hesitation, Sophie responds in the affirmative.
Soon after, Uhl's policemen, who have Sophie under surveillance, witness
Sophie and Eisenheim kissing in a carriage. Uhl gently informs the Crown Prince that
Prince that Sophie was "seen" with Eisenheim.
That evening, Leopold confronts Sophie at the Mayerling hunting lodge and
accuses her of being unfaithful. She tells him that she will not marry him or have
anything to do with his plans. As she leaves, an enraged Leopold is seen to draw his
sword and chase her into the stables.
The following day, Sophie's horse returns to Vienna covered in blood and
without its rider. Within hours, a search party finds Sophie dead in the Vienna
Woods with a sword cut across her neck. Enraged, Eisenheim tells Uhl that Sophie was
about to leave the Crown Prince for him. Uhl refuses to believe this, regarding the
alternative unthinkable. As Eisenheim plunges into despair and the citizens of Vienna
begin to suspect Leopold of Sophie's murder, Uhl observes Eisenheim's actions more
closely on behalf of Leopold.
Wracked with grief, Eisenheim prepares a new kind of magic show, using
mysterious equipment and Chinese stagehands. During his show, Eisenheim
apparently summons spirits, leading many to believe that he possesses supernatural
powers. Leopold decides to attend one of Eisenheim's shows incognito. During this
show, Eisenheim summons the spirit of Sophie, who says that someone in the theater
murdered her. Panicking, Leopold orders Uhl to arrest Eisenheim for fraud. Uhl pleads
with Eisenheim to never summon Sophie again. Eisenheim, however, promises only
that Uhl will enjoy the next performance.
Returning to the opening scene of the movie, Uhl witnesses Eisenheim summon
Sophie a second time. She laments that she lost her locket, a gift from Eisenheim, when
she died. Uhl attempts to publically arrest Eisenheim on the spot, only for the
illusionist to fade and disappear like his summoned spirits.
Finishing his story to the Crown Prince, Uhl explains to Leopold that he has
found evidence that Sophie was murdered by him in the Mayerling stables. He cites the
evidence he found there after Eisenheim's disappearance: a jewel from the prince's
bloodstained sword and Sophie's locket. Leopold first reminds Uhl that the Vienna
police have no jurisdiction over his hunting lodge. He demands that Uhl return the
evidence immediately, reminding him of the political career and title of nobility which
he was promised in return for supporting the upcoming coup.
To his horror and outrage, Leopold discovers that Uhl no longer cares about
anything but justice for Sophie. Uhl announces that he has already informed the
Emperor and the General Staff of Leopold's conspiracy to usurp the Imperial and
Royal throne. Seething with hatred, Leopold aims a revolver at Uhl's face,
vowing to kill him, too. As officers from the Imperial Guard of the Austro-
Hungarian Army storm the Mayerling hunting lodge, Leopold vents his hatred
for his father'sconstitutional monarchy, which he says is letting the Empire be
"governed by mongrels." The only hope for, "anything to get done," was for him
to seize power, abolish Parliament, and govern by decree. As the officers start to
break down his door, the Crown Prince shoots himself through the head.
Having been dismissed as Chief Inspector, Uhl leaves the Imperial Palace
and is approached by a boy who had appeared as a ghost in Eisenheim's show
and receives a folio explaining one of Eisenheim's magic tricks. Uhl demands to
know where the child obtained the folio; the child reveals that Eisenheim had
given it to him. Uhl then reaches for Sophie's locket, only to discover that
someone removed it from his pocket while he spoke to the boy. Recognizing a
disguised Eisenheim, Uhl follows him to the train station. As the train leaves,
a montage shows an admiring Uhl putting the pieces together in his mind. In
reality, Eisenheim and Sophie have framed Leopold for a murder which never
took place. Eisenheim is then seen walking up to a house in the country, where
he and Sophie embrace passionately.
Eisenheim's previous words are then heard in voiceover: "Everything
you have seen is an illusion -- a trick."