Hello everyone! Richard and I watched a movie this week on TV and you might have already seen it but if not, then I most certainly recommend it. It is "Woman In Gold" and it stars Helen Mirren. It is a true story about the painting "Woman In Gold" by the Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt. The artwork had been stolen from the family's home in Austria by the Nazis in World War II. It ended up at a gallery in Austria (and the gallery did NOT want to let it go, of course.) The film is about Maria Altman, a Jewish refugee who settled in California (played superbly by Helen Mirren) who went to court and asked to have the painting returned to her. (Her aunt was the subject of the painting.)
You might not know this about me but I am very interested in court cases and the back story, if you will, of how they are brought about in the first place! You MUST watch the movie to find out what happens when the lawyer goes to a Barnes and Noble Book Store and that one visit makes him realize that he will be able to bring suit against the gallery in Austria for the painting!
It is a very good movie, based on a true story. Please let me know if you have seen it and if you do see it, let me know what you think.
Maria Altmann's attorney, Randol Schoenberg, now specializes in legal cases related to the recovery of stolen artworks, especially those stolen by the Nazi regime. He is the President of the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust.
And my friends, if you are interested in seeing more of the art by Klimt and many others, you may read and learn more about artists at this website:
(It looks as if you may purchase art from this website also.) I hope I don't sound like one of those creepy radio ads, where someone is talking to you very personally and then, starts trying to sell you something. This sounds like a legit website to me, so I am just going on instinct here. Art seems like
a nice thing to promote to me.
I've not yet seen it; do want to see it and will get to watch it. All the reviews I've read about the movie have been glowing (please excuse the pun)!! :
ReplyDeleteHa,ha...glowing, yes indeed!
DeleteYou will like this film, I am certain.
Helen Mirren is such a good actress. I like to know the "how come" of all sorts of historical events. I will have to see the movie.
ReplyDeleteWe first saw Helen Mirren on TV in the Prime Suspect series. My word, she was good! I still remember most of the episodes. (And I notice many of the actors that were very young at the time, and they have been in lots of things since then!)
DeleteHelen Mirren has been brilliant in every film I've ever seen with her. Thank you for recommending this one, I'd not heard about it until now.
ReplyDeleteIn the late 1980s and early 1990s, I visited Prague a few times and saw some of his paintings at the Narodni Gallery. They are impressive on photographs - imagine how much more so when you see them "live"!
Then I am glad that I have told you about it here! When you get to see it, you will see what I mean!
DeleteIt is much, much better to see the actual pieces of art. When we visited London, I didn't want to leave the National Gallery!
I saw a Klimt exhibition somewhere (probably London) one some years ago. I have a feeling The Kiss was there.I recall being impressed although the paintings were not to my taste but the person I was with fell head over heels in love and raved about Klimt for years (she may still do). Anyway I digressed. I shall certainly endeavour to see the film for various reasons not least of which is Helen Mirren's brilliant acting.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, Helen Mirren is brilliant in any of her acting roles.
DeleteI hope this won't spoil it for you, but Maria Altmann says, after someone mentions all the "gold" in the paining, "Oh, that is just Klimt being Klimt, look at the FACE". Helen Mirren said this in such a tone, with such conviction...as you say, great acting!
Yes, I saw the movie when it was released, and liked it very much. Helen Mirren is always wonderful, and the story is very interesting too. I like Klimt's paintings, and remember very well a gown based on his work was made by Valentino and featured in the Valentino Retrospective exhibition held here in 2010. I loved it!
ReplyDeleteLucky, lucky you...to see a Valentino exhibition based on the art of Klimt! We never have films like this one released very close to us, it is mostly the blockbusters that we get.
DeleteI saw this and I really enjoyed it! What a great story. And what an amazing ending. I, too, recommend it to anyone who is looking for something good to watch.
ReplyDeleteHey Martha! I am glad you saw this, I never see movies when they are new, so I hope my readers will bear with me! :-)
DeleteHey, did you notice that the woman judge was played by Elizabeth McGovern, which I wondered about...the director is Simon Curtis, her husband! He also directed another movie that I really liked, "My Week With Marilyn".
I'll be on the look out for that movie. The picture is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you see it, it is a well made film.
DeleteYes, My Rare One and I went to see this in the theatres and loved it! So great that it had a happy ending. We like anything dealing with people finally getting justice against Nazis. Did you see the movie "Monument Men"? It dealt with a similar theme of how art was retrieved from Nazi confiscation.
ReplyDeleteI did see "The Monument Men" and I liked it but...I had some ideas of how it could have been better. You mustn't mind me, I have some lofty idea of being a movie director so it makes me very, very picky! Our son's major in college was Film! (My influence, I am sure! LOL)
DeleteWe saw it and loved it, Helen Mirren is such a chameleon. Sad story and we were so glad that she won the case, looked up info and saw that the painting is in NYC.
ReplyDeleteYes, I didn't go into detail about it, but they mention in the movie that it ends up at the gallery in NYC. We need to go and see it, don't we?
DeleteSounds a great movie. I like court cases too although I hadn't heard of this one.
ReplyDeleteI very much like court cases also. I have a brother in law who is an attorney and we like the same kinds of books!
DeleteAlain & I really enjoyed the movie!
ReplyDeleteI wish that they would make more films like this one, true stories with endings that are satisfactory. The story behind it is such a sad one, but one that MUST be told, as we must NOT forget it!
DeleteWhile i haven't seen the movie, i do agree with those who bring lawsuits to bring stolen art back to the rightful owner.
ReplyDeleteSee this film when you get the chance, it is an important one, I think.
DeleteI saw this when it first came out and have watched it several times since then - it's such a good film and Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds are superb in it. I used elements of the painting in one of the journal quilts I made last year - it was the April one I think and had a bird on it if you want to search for it on my blog. X
ReplyDeleteI surely must have seen it, and thought of the Klimt painting that was in our room at the Davinci Hotel in Eastbourne!
DeleteYou are so clever!
Wish they would make more films like this one, well made and showing us history and things put as right as possible.
I saw the trailer for this film on Showtime (I think) - I'll look for it.
ReplyDeletePlease do!
DeleteThat looks like a movie I would enjoy! Enjoy your week :)
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful week too!
DeleteI haven't seen it, but it does sound like a very good film and fascinating, if very sad story.
ReplyDeleteIt is most certainly very sad but it is a true story. More movies should be made like this, I think.
DeleteI also enjoyed this movie, it had everything - drama, history, art and suspense. And, of course, Helen Mirren, one of my favorite actors.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks for your comment, Amalia! I so agree with you!
Delete(And am I following you? I will have to look, we have a lot in common except YOU are a better writer!)
My daughter loves this painting. Thank you for telling me about the movie.
ReplyDeleteOh! I am so glad to tell you about this film! I am sure that you and your daughter both would like to see it!
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