The Stolen Painting (M)

Inspired by remarkable true events, acclaimed writer/director Pascal Bonitzer’s sharp and hugely engrossing new dramedy The Stolen Painting follows a self-assured auctioneer whose professional and personal integrity is challenged by the discovery of a long-lost masterpiece.

Paris, present day. Brash 40-something André Masson, a hotshot modern art appraiser at prestigious high-end auction house Scottie’s, receives word that a painting by Egon Schiele may have been found in a young factory worker’s home in the Alsatian city of Mulhouse. 

Though highly sceptical, André travels to view the canvas with his ex-partner Bettina who is also an expert valuator, only to be convinced of its authenticity as a masterwork long assumed destroyed by Nazi officials during WWII. For André, the ramifications of this once-in-a-lifetime find for his career and for his contentious relationship with his less-than-reliable intern Aurore, will prove both unexpected and transformative. 

Skilfully brought to life by an array of both endearing and duplicitous characters, The Stolen Painting is a thrilling exploration of the often-cynical world of art dealing and collecting, where the jaw-dropping prices aren't always related to the rarity of the object. It’s savvy and sophisticated entertainment. 

Cast: Alex Lutz, Léa Drucker, Nora Hamzawi, Louise Chevillotte, Alain Chamfort, Olivier Rabourdin

Director: Pascal Bonitzer

★★★★ "Sharp, elegant and funny" LE FIGARO

★★★★ "Fascinating. Inspired by a true story, the film is less about art than about the interests associated with it. All with finesse and humour, without ever overstating the case. A subtle and captivating film." LE PARISIEN

★★★★ "a candid look at the ferocious world of the art market" FRANCEINFO CULTURE

★★★★ "Sharp and witty. Bonitzer skillfully portrays the artworld as a nest of vipers where sharp-tongued exchanges abound among the powerful. A subtle, ironic, and intelligent exploration of the intersections between art, history, and commerce" TÉLÉRAMA