Behind the Film: The Cards We’re Dealt

Introduction:

The Cards We’re Dealt is a post-apocalyptic drama set after Britain collapses in the midst of a third world war. Following teenagers Arthur and Iris, we learn the lengths people will go to for survival in a war-torn world. At the time of production, the directors were only seventeen,
bringing their own fears for the future to the screen.

Inspiration

The Cards We’re Dealt was born out of a desire to create something ambitious and that incorporated our fear for the world we may be hurtling towards. When we began writing, we were only sixteen. We both turned seventeen merely months before production began. We wanted to create a world that many teenagers in war-torn countries are forced to live in, only this time bringing it to Britain. We turned towards films such as Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Children of Men’ and Danny Boyle’s ‘28 Years Later’ for inspiration on the plot and visual style of the film. As well as turning to Naughty Dog’s ‘The Last of Us’ as a reference for our characters.

The Process

The filmmaking process for The Cards We’re Dealt was the definition of banding together.
With a crew of around ten film students and a budget provided by the local community through a GoFundMe campaign, we shot the majority of the film in one week.
For the set, we turned our local bowling clubhouse into a kitted-out war bunker, with everyone coming together to help out; even my grandma helped with some sewing.

What It Means to Be Selected:

Being selected for the Worcester Film Festival above all proves that with the right amount of passion, creativity and sheer will, anyone can create a film for people to enjoy. The Cards We’re Dealt was a passion project headed by two teenagers and crewed by a group of young film students; this selection is a fantastic milestone for all involved.