Five In Focus

Roberto Giobbi

Roberto Giobbi has a mathematical and scientific background, studied literature and linguistics and majored as a translator and interpreter in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Since 1988, he has been working as a professional magician, author and lecturer. At the World Championship of Magic, he twice won the title of vice world champion in Card Magic, and as the winner of all categories received the Grand Prix in Switzerland. He is a member of the Escuela Magica de Madrid, magic’s only think tank with 40 members worldwide. He writes essays and columns for some of the most influential magic magazines and has over 50 books in six languages to his credit. His five bestselling volumes of Card College are the most widely translated magic books in history and are considered globally as the ultimate reference work for card magic. He is a sought after lecturer and coach for professional magicians but also gives interdisciplinary talks and workshop for industry managers on creativity, communication and presentation. Roberto Giobbi is married and has two children; he lives and works near Basel in Switzerland.

1. |

Tampopo

Even if this film was only about eating and sex it would be an extraordinary good movie. But fortunately it is about many more things besides earthly pleasures — it is about excellence, but in a humanistic way, which I much prefer to the hardcore Western way that reduces most excellence to power and money. [Buy]

2. |

The Sting

Of course this has to be any magician’s favourite, so for me, too. Apart from the brilliant plot, so masterfully directed and incredibly well interpreted, it shows that besides an obvious dramatic construction, there is also a subtle psychological construction – it takes both in perfect equilibrium to create an intellectual and emotional experience. This is true for good movies as it is for good magic. [Buy]

3. |

Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?

With Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Morley. Europe’s most famous chefs are killed in the same way they prepare their own specialties. Crime fiction and black humor in a delicious combination. After all, gastronomy is the basis of all art. Why? Gastronomy is about eating, if you don’t eat you die and if you’re dead you can’t be an artist, therefore gastronomy is the basis of all art. Any questions?

4. |

Le voyage dans la lune (Trip to the Moon)

The first short film of Georges Méliès I saw as a youngster in the film museum in Basel (Switzerland), the curator of which was Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s brother. Not even knowing who Méliès was and what significance he had, I was absolutely enthralled and fascinated. Magical in plot and execution.

5. |

Goldfinger

With Sean Connery and Gerd Fröbe. If I wasn’t a magician, I would want to be James Bond. I don’t mind reducing life to its essentials. Alas all is more complex in real life... My favorites are those with Sean Connery and Roger Moore, with less obvious violence, but more humor and frivolity. I like things to be left to the imagination – as in magic, the spectator’s imagination is the magician’s most important ally. [Buy]

BONUS: L’aile ou la cuisse. This film stands in close competition with two others with Luis de Funès La Grande Vadrouille and Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob. Funès demonstrates that personality always comes first, before gags, slapsticks and comedy in general; it is its cause, not its effect.