It's difficult to hold your poker face while watching Lost In The Shuffle. Definitely targeting fans of the films like National Treasure and Now You See Me, this search for historical truths revealed though an item that almost everyone has in their home is extremely entertaining.
At first I was concerned that the card trick designers, as these magicians call themselves, would reveal some of their secrets to the audience. Sure, some may believe they want to know how a trick is done, but once you reveal the mystery, you surrender your sense of wonder as well. As luck would have it, the filmmakers keep all the tricks up the designer's sleeves, concentrating on following the breadcrumb trail that Shawn Farquhar, a professional magician and two-time World Championship of Magic winner and narrator of the film, deposits along the road. A possible royal coverup of a 500-year old MURDER!!!
Farquhar first takes us into his own home and gives us a little of his personal history. He explains a few of the mysteries behind his magic. For example, each deck of cards he, or any other magician uses, is prepped for a different trick. We accompany Farquhar across the globe to follow his unravelling of the saga, meeting other card trick designers along the way, who show us their specialities.
We're treated to a bit of history in the film. An antique, but still working, printing press is displayed, used to print decks of cards when the pasttime became so popular the creating them by hand simply was too time consuming. China is credited with inventing not only the first paper money, but also the first paper playing cards. The filmmakers take us to other cities, illuminating the story of a singular deck that was considered quite risque for their time. When lighting is placed behind each card, depictions of sexual acts are revealed. Imprisoned soldiers utilized playing cards during wartime, inserting cut up maps between the leaves of the cards, which, when removed and re-assembled, provided the soldiers with a escape route. Even Tarot cards, if you're familiar with them, take their origin from playing cards.
As to the intent of the film - here's the mystery that the filmmakers wish to expose. Examine almost any deck of 52 playing cards. You'll see that the King of Hearts has a sword pushed into the rear side of his noggin. What is that?? The original story goes that these picture or 'court' cards all represent royals and this one represents King Charles VIII, way back in 1498 France. He dies under mysterious circumstances. Historians say he bumped his head in a subbasement of his castle after watching a tennis match. Accompanied by his Queen, he falls to the ground, goes into a coma and never leaves the subbasement alive. But is that what really happened to the victim, or was a palace intrigue afoot? Has there been a royal cover-up?
The film takes us on an examination of the history of the region at that time, disecting the wars and even the clothing worn by regents. Is the truth hidden in plain sight within the deck? Imagine the identical details that have been captured and recaptured for 500 years on decks of cards, internationally. The same tale, under all our noses, which hasn't been investigated till now.
Playing cards are multinational, as is magic. You can be any age, sex or race and partake in multiple games of skill or chance with these same 52 identical pieces of paperstock. You will get swept away by a magician's illusions, regardless of whether you speak their language or not. So I invite you to watch Lost in the Shuffle. I believe you'll be captivated in spades by its sleight of hand, even if you fail to agree with Farquhar's deductions.
Lost In The Shuffle will appear on these VOD platforms: ITUNES/APPLE TV, YOUTUBE, MICROSOFT/XBOX and
FANDANGO AT HOME
Lisa Blanck is the Associate Editor / Movie Reviewer for In Focus-Magazine.com and is a member of the Critics Association of Central Florida. Her background includes 30+ years of digital editing for NBC and CBS News affiliates. She also edits national promotional spots for Matter Of Fact, the #1 nationally syndicated news & information program. For 30+ years she has covered the Florida Film Festival & the World Peace Film Festival, and has additional award-winning experience in advertising, marketing, promotions and live special events with MTV Networks.
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