We all have talents, but we don’t always know right away what those talents are. Sometimes it’s through experiences, both positive and negative, that we learn how to channel our gifts. The question becomes what to do when we discover our new gifts, especially if they have the power to be used by others.

That’s the case in Tuner, a new film set for a wide release this summer in late May. But it’s getting a special screening Friday, April 10 at the Boulder International Film Festival. It comes from director and co-writer Daniel Roher and tells the story of a talented man who faces some difficult decisions.

Niki (Leo Woodall) has perfect pitch, which made him a gifted savant at the piano. But a condition derailed his career and his life. He’s allergic to sound, which forces him to be very careful engaging in the world. He found a new opportunity with Harry (Dustin Hoffman), a friend and mentor who has taken him on as an apprentice for his piano tuning business.

But Niki and Harry aren’t co-workers, they’re more like father and son. Niki is a part of Harry’s family, with a close relationship to him and his wife Marla (Tovah Feldshun). While Harry is ill, Niki takes on all the day’s clients. There, he meets two important people. First, it’s Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), a composing student with whom he shares a spark.

Later, it’s Uri (Lior Raz), who presents a business opportunity. As Niki is working late into the evening, a noise serves as a painful distraction. Turns out Uri and his colleagues are trying to get into a safe. Niki needs the noise to stop, so he offers to use his sensitive ear to help them. He’s had some practice as he got into Harry’s safe after Harry forgot the combination.

After his success with the safe, Uri offers Niki a more permanent position, and a way to make quick cash. Needing money for himself and to help out Harry, he finds himself drawn into a new, fast-paced, and dangerous world.

This is a simple enough premise. We’ve seen stories like this before, as a young man with talent gets seduced into a life of crime by a need for money and a different life. The twist here is the set up for Niki. He has an interesting backstory and an interesting condition. It gives this a twist that serves as a nice hook and entry to the world.

Roher does a nice job of pacing the story. He crafted the script with Robert Ramsay and has a feel for these characters and this world. It’s a nice launch into features for a director who has delivered some great documentaries such as Navalny, Blink, and the currently out AI Doc. He shows he has a good eye for features as well.

The film is also buoyed by some good performances. I enjoyed Hoffman in his limited role, adding a touch of comedy and pathos. Feldshun and Liu also round out the world and do a nice job pouring into Niki’s story.

But what makes it work here is Woodall. He’s a talented performer who makes the most of the role. He makes you believe in Niki and root for Niki, even with some of the choices he’s made. And the final sequence ends in some surprising places that allow Woodall to shine.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and world built in Tuner. It’s an engaging set of characters that moves at a good pace. It will be great for audiences this summer, but also for those who get a chance to see it at the Boulder International Film Festival Friday. To learn more about the festival and the screening, visit https://biff1.com/

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.