'Woman in Gold' - Nazis, art and justice
The dispute over "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer" by Gustav Klimt, which was stolen by the Nazis, electrified the art and legal worlds a few years back. And now the thrilling tale comes to the big screen.
The real woman in gold
Actress Helen Mirren plays Maria Altmann in the film, the niece of Adele Bloch-Bauer. Austrian artist Gustav Klimt painted the portrait of Bloch-Bauer in 1903 - a magnificent portrait of a young woman set to a golden background. The painting was eventually confiscated by the Nazis: and so begins the fascinating story of art and justice.
Painting a picture
The film, which largely follows historical fact, celebrated its premiere during the Berlinale in the German capital in February. "Woman in Gold" has now been released to cinemas - in a slightly abridged version, however. Actor Moritz Bleibtreu starred as Gustav Klimt in the film, although these scenes were later edited out.
Up against the system
The film centers on the protagonist Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), a Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis and settled in the US. In her older age, she learns that the iconic Klimt painting is actually the property of her family. She hires a young lawyer (Ryan Reynolds) and together they travel to Vienna, where the portrait of her aunt Adele Bloch-Bauer is hanging in a museum.
Flashbacks
But the film does not limit itself to this story alone. It includes many flashbacks, describing how the Bloch-Bauer family, who had once made a fortune in the sugar trade, is harassed in German-occupied Vienna. The family once owned five paintings by Gustav Klimt - all of which were looted by the Nazis.
In suspense
"Woman in Gold" comes at a time of intrigue at such large-scale art theft. Thanks to the case of Cornelius Gurlitt - and the 1258 artworks uncovered in an apartment in Munich - the public has become more aware of such cases. Director Simon Curtis presents an unflattering view of the Austrian authorities - hostile to the investigative work of the lawyer Randy Schoenberg, played by Ryan Reynolds.
An international story
"Woman in Gold" is a British production with an international cast. Helen Mirren is British, her co-star Ryan Reynolds is Canadian, while German actor Daniel Brühl plays an investigative journalist. Also starring are German actors Tom Schilling, Justus von Dohnányi and Nina Kunzendorf.
An outstanding performance
The film is clearly dominated by Oscar-winning British actress Helen Mirren, who has added yet another highlight to her career with this film. She rises to every scene, endowing Maria Altmann with a lot of charm, wit and sprit. European by birth, Maria Altmann has long been living in Los Angeles.
A highly emotional film
"Woman in Gold" fuses history and cinematic drama. Its melodramatic aspects have been underlined by the soundtrack of German-born composer Hans Zimmer, who has been working in Hollywood for quite some time. The filmed wowed the critics at the Berlinale, and is now set to do the same again on screens across the globe.