Genre
Synopsis
Born into a Jewish family in 1910 Berlin, Ruth Iris Wachsmann dreams of becoming a ballerina. But after witnessing a mesmerizing performance by famed magician Larette, her life takes a dramatic turn. Captivated by illusion, she persuades Larette to mentor her, and soon masters manipulation tricks with cigarettes, billiard balls, and cards. Adopting the stage name Miss Blanche—inspired by a popular cigarette brand—her androgynous look and talent help her become a sensation across Europe.
By the 1930s, Miss Blanche is headlining prestigious venues, speaking multiple languages, and captivating audiences. Along the way, she falls in love with fellow Jewish magician N.W. Teitz, who performs as Max Peltini. Their love affair is intertwined with their professional ambitions. However, the rise of the Nazis in 1933 shatters their world and they flee to the Netherlands. When the Nazis invade in 1940, Max is arrested and deported to a concentration camp, where he is killed. Devastated, Ruth hides under the alias Ruth Wolf, performing sporadically.
In 1943, Ruth is arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where her talent as a magician is discovered by Nazi officers. Forced to perform, she earns small privileges that help her survive. Her magic—once a tool for entertainment—becomes an act of defiance, creating moments of escape and hope for herself and fellow prisoners. Her journey mirrors that of her mentor, Larette, during World War I.
In January 1945, Ruth is liberated from Auschwitz by Soviet forces, emaciated and barely alive. Returning to the Netherlands, she slowly rebuilds her life. By 1949, she remarries and eventually emigrates to the United States in 1956, leaving her stage career behind. Ruth’s legacy as Miss Blanche, the magician who survived both fame and the Holocaust, lives on. Her greatest magic was her inner resilience, making her story one of survival, love, and the strength of the human spirit.
Bio
Susan Dynner is an award-winning Director, Producer, and Writer known for her compelling work in narrative and documentary films. A recent Sundance Stories of Change Directing Fellow and Blackmagic Studio Feature Directing Fellow, Dynner recently completed The Soul Trader, a proof-of-concept short starring Shane West, Donna Mills, and Shauna Grace. She is also directing a documentary on women in magic, a subject close to her heart as a Magician Member of the world-famous Magic Castle.
Dynner’s diverse credits include directing and producing Code Blue: A Love Story starring Andy Dick, which earned her the Sony TV Directing Fellowship, and Punk’s Not Dead, which premiered at Cannes and saw global theatrical distribution. As a producer, she worked on Free Ride starring Anna Paquin, Girls, Girls, Girls, and the acclaimed documentary After Porn Ends.
Early in her career, Dynner produced Brick, Rian Johnson’s Sundance-winning debut. She has held executive roles in development for Charlie Sheen, Nick Cassavetes, and Wolfgang Petersen, and began her industry journey at Richard Donner Productions and Di Novi Pictures. Remarkably, her creative path started at fifteen as a professional band photographer.
A passionate advocate for women in film, Dynner co-founded GenXX, an initiative expanding opportunities for experienced, talented and vetted female directors who got lost between sexism and ageism. She is a Producers Guild Fellow, Trans-Atlantic Producing Fellow, and a Power of Diversity Mentor. Through her company, Aberration Films, Dynner continues to develop innovative projects that push boundaries across genres and platforms.
