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By Henry Bear 　Translated by Ann Lee

"Death Defying Acts" There is no escape from love 　2008/09/05

Rating: PG　Thriller/Romance/Drama

This film tells the story of Harry Houdini (1874-1926), the legendary magician. His famous escape and illusion acts are considered some of the greatest stunts of all time and, without doubt, his master performances have had a great influence on other magicians. The biggest regret in Houdini's life, though, was the fact that he couldn't stay at his mother's deathbed; this fact haunted him for many years. His guilt and remorse eventually pushed him to try to contact his mother, which is a feat he worked tirelessly at and is just where this story begins.

A psychic named Mary (Catherine Zeta-Jones), her daughter and their sidekick, Benji (Saoirse Ronan), try to con Houdini (Guy Pearce) during his 1926 tour of Britain. The trio signs up for Houdini's publicized seance as soon as they learn that a US$10,000 prize will be awarded to whoever can accurately reveal the last words his mother spoke to him. When Houdini meets Mary, who happens to resemble his mother in her youth, he finds himself attracted to her, which throws him off course a bit. Mary, resourceful as ever, acts the part of a considered confidante well and even recruits her daughter to help her stage a seance that will give Houdini a message from beyond the grave.

Director Gillian Armstrong wanted a challenge after her last film "Little Women" and explores the romance between Houdini and Mary as a representation of the magician's feelings towards his mother. When Houdini escapes from a watery prison, for example, the imagery is that of a sort of birth or re-birth, giving it a perhaps more feministic approach, which is quite different from other biographical works about Houdini.

It is also worth mentioning that the three talented leads play their roles well, which contributes even more to "Death Defying Acts". The ending, which won't be revealed here, does speak to fate and the film's own tagline: There is no escape. Love is inescapable.