Dealt

Filmmaker: Luke Korem
Runtime: 86 min

Sixty-two-year-old Richard Turner is renowned as one of the world’s greatest card magicians, yet he is completely blind. In this inspiring documentary, Richard traces his journey from his troubled childhood, when he began losing his vision, to present day as he relentlessly pursues perfection while struggling with the reality that his biggest weakness might also be his greatest strength. Fueled by frustration at a young age, Richard engaged in acts of self-destruction – karate, motorcycling, mountain climbing – to prove the label “handicapped” didn’t apply to him. He eventually funneled his reckless, frenetic energy into perfecting the art of fixing cards, rendering a world class sleight of hand with microscopic traces of mischief. The juxtaposition between Richard and his likewise-blind sister, who’s fully at peace with her sightlessness, reveals how his disdain for braille, canes, and Seeing Eye dogs prolonged his journey toward true independence. Watching Richard work through the stages of acceptance reminds us that we all struggle to face parts of ourselves we like the least.

About The Filmmaker

Luke Korem is a director and producer whose recent work includes the award-winning Sundance Selects documentary “Dealt”, which won multiple audiences and jury awards, most notably in the documentary competition at SXSW 2017. “Dealt” sold to IFC and received critical acclaim, including a Critics Pick by the Los Angeles Times. After its theatrical release, “Dealt” became #1 on the iTunes doc charts and was selected as their Editors’ Choice. Prior to pursuing a career in film, Luke earned a degree in economics while being self-taught in filmmaking. His first film is the documentary feature “Lord Montagu” (director/producer), which chronicles the life of one of England’s most controversial and iconic aristocrats of the twentieth century. The film premiered at London’s prestigious BAFTA and was picked up for worldwide distribution by Gravitas Ventures. Korem currently lives in Austin, TX with his wife, Ashley.