BLACK KRAUT Production's first feature project,
Illusions of Grandeur, is a 90 minute digital feature that
shows the intertwining lives of five young New Yorkers.
Drawing from some of his own experiences and
phobias, writer/director Matthew Hencke crafted the
project to incorporate issues ranging from religion to
racism, homosexuality to emotional abuse. "I wanted to
avoid making a 'theme' movie, where I would have to be
limited to a particular subject," he said. "Real life isn't
like that. We all have different fears and face different
obstacles. I wanted Illusions to have the feeling of five
separate lives being brought together and affecting
each other, either negatively or positively."

    The result is a thought provoking movie that moves
deftly through moments of pain and desperation to
interludes of hope and joy.


    Illusions centers around Gary Hunt, an abusive stand-up comic and notorious womanizer,
    as he is about to get his big break into network television. Karen Brill, his girlfriend, is
    haunted by her past and pleads for help from those closest to her, only to find compassion
    in a stranger. Lucas Adams, Gary’s best friend and a habitual gambler, is desperately
    looking for a way to pay off his bookie as he struggles to deal with his increasingly
    romantic feelings for Gary. Bobby Torciello, an NYU film student, is searching to find the
    balance between his crumbling faith in his Catholic upbringing and the truth he is pursuing
    in his documentary. Finally, we have Craig Watson, a frustrated novelist, wrestling with his
    deeply rooted prejudice after meeting a beautiful black woman. Story lines interweave as
    these five people struggle to face their demons.
Black Kraut Productions wishes to sincerely thank the incredible music group Rachel's
for granting us permission to use their beautiful song "Water From The Same Source"
from the 2003 CD release Systems/Layers in Illusions of Grandeur.
To hear music from Rachel's and find out more about the band, visit their website at
www.rachelsband.com