Magicians

Magicians

Year: 2007

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Andrew O’Connor

Comedy

A pair of rivaling stage magicians are forced to confront their falling out over a guillotine mishap when they compete in a magic competition.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Magicians (2007)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Magicians (2007). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The narrative unfolds over roughly four years, moving from the immediate aftermath of the tragedy to the subsequent reunions and career shifts. It tracks the deterioration and later reconciliation of the two main friends as their lives diverge and then converge again. The timeline emphasizes aging, shifting relationships, and rising stakes in the world of magic and performance.

Location

Jersey, London

Jersey is the main setting for the climactic 'Magic shield' contest, providing the intimate backstage spaces and public stage where the finale unfolds. The island atmosphere frames the rivalry and reunion, with the theatre and its surrounding venues serving as the crucible for secrets and risk. London scenes pepper the story, showing the performers' wider world—hotels, offices, and the social circle that surrounds the act.

🎭 Theatre 🏝️ Island 🏁 Competition

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:16

Main Characters – Magicians (2007)

Meet the key characters of Magicians (2007), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Harry Kane - David Mitchell

Harry is an accomplished but insecure magician whose pride and fear of guilt drive the plot. After the tragedy with Carol and Karl, he exits professional magic and works in a hardware store, haunted by his past. He remains capable of genuine feeling, but struggles to express his love for Linda. In the Jersey finale, he confronts his past and wins not just the prize but a chance at forgiveness.

🎭 Ambition 💔 Insecurity 🪄 Magician ❤️ Love

Karl Allen - James Smith

Karl is the charismatic but ethically troubled rival; he pursues fame with a Mindmonger persona while secretly fearing the consequences of his deception. He is attracted to Dani and conflicted by the lie of his psychic act. His bond with Harry, strained by betrayal, drives the drama toward its climactic confession and mutual forgiveness.

🎭 Rivalry 🪄 Magician 💡 Deception

Linda Jones - Jessica Hynes

Linda is a former coworker who becomes Harry's new assistant. She brings warmth and vulnerability, slowly drawing Harry out of his emotional shell. Her fidelity and desire for connection test Harry's fears and push him toward honest confession. She plays a pivotal role in bridging the two men during the finale and the new act.

🎭 Romance 💪 Loyalty 🧭 Complication

Carol - Sarah Hadland

Carol is Harry's wife and Karl's partner, whose ambition and relationship with Karl become the center of the central tragedy. Her fate throws the two friends into crisis and raises questions about trust, truth, and the cost of fame. Her memory haunts both men as they navigate guilt and forgiveness.

💔 Tragedy 🎭 Betrayal 🧪 Illusion

Dani - Andrea Riseborough

Dani is the tea girl who becomes the subject of Karl's affections and acts as a catalyst for his artistic pivot. She believes in Karl's psychic abilities, adding pressure to his ethical conflict. Her forgiveness becomes a key turning point in the finale.

💫 Infatuation 🪄 Magic 💡 Belief

Otto Johnson - Darren Boyd

Otto is Karl's incompetent agent, meddling and often more interested in his own desires than in the act's success. He lashes out with unspoken lust for Karl, creating tension and dark comedy within the rivalry. His cowardice and self-interest complicate the path to the competition.

🎭 Agent 🤹‍♂️ Comedy 🧭 Jealousy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:16

Major Themes – Magicians (2007)

Explore the central themes of Magicians (2007), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Friendship

The film centers on a complex friendship turned rivalry. It probes loyalty, trust, and the pain of betrayal after a shared tragedy. As Harry and Karl chase different paths, their past binds them in unexpected ways, driving both risk and redemption. Forgiveness becomes the key to rebuilding their relationship and partnership.

🪄 Magic & Truth

The plot hinges on illusion versus reality, with both magicians discovering the cost of deception. Karl's psychic act and the eventual confession strip away pretenses, exposing vulnerabilities. The crowd's faith and Dani's belief test whether a performer's fame justifies dishonesty. Ultimately, truth becomes the foundation for genuine performance and trust.

💔 Love & Forgiveness

Romance threads run through the competition, with Linda's support and Karl's crush complicating loyalty. The affair of Carol and Karl triggers guilt, leading to confrontations and moral reckonings. As secrets surface, the characters must choose between pride and reconciliation. The finale hinges on forgiveness, allowing friendship to heal and careers to reassemble into a shared future.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:16

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Magicians Summary

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Magicians Summary

Magicians Timeline

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Magicians Timeline

Magicians Spoiler-Free Summary

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Magicians Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Magicians

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