The Stolen Painting (M) - 91 minutes

The ultimate find for an art auction house is when a painting from one of the Masters thought lost or destroyed turns up unexpectedly … and so it is in Stolen Painting.

One day, arrogant Paris auctioneer Andre Masson (Alex Lutz) receives a letter indicating that an Egon Schiele has been discovered at the home of a young worker.

His name is Martin Keller (Aracadi Radeff). The decent, naïve 30-year-old works at a chemical plant. He shares a humble residence with his widowed mother. 

The missive to Masson is from Keller’s counsel, Suzanne Egerman (Nora Hamzawi).

The brusque Masson can’t believe what he is reading, but immediately contacts his ex-wife and fellow expert valuer Bettina (Lea Drucker).

The pair travels to meet Keller and see the painting, which turns out to be one of those looted by the Nazis from Jewish families during the Holocaust. It “disappeared” in 1939. 

When Keller hears about its origins, he wants nothing to do with it, but the generous relatives of the rightful owners have other ideas.

And that is when, behind the scenes, the plotting begins to underplay the real worth of the painting.

Inspired by truth, although the characters are fictional, writer/director Pascal Bontizer has created a sharp and sophisticated comedy with dramatic elements.

It is a story that has several threads to it.

There is the less than inspiring attitude of Masson and his derogatory approach to his new intern Aurore (Louise Cheviollotte), well captured by Alex Lutz.

Cheviollotte brings unease to Aurore, who has a complicated back story, which, understandably, makes her less than trusting.

She has fallen out with her mother (who we never meet) and can only stomach her father, who helps with her rent, in small doses. The last thing she needs is to be “ridden” at work.

Even though they have long since parted, there is mutual respect between Masson and Bettina, the latter of whom has moved on with her life and remains upbeat.

Lea Drucker brings authority and warmth to Bettina.

Contrast that with the righteousness of Martin Keller, played splendidly as a duck out of water by Arcadi Radeff.

The Stolen Painting takes us inside the power plays and duplicitous characters that punctuate the work.

Much of it is smoke and mirrors in an endeavour influence the price of the painting.

Pascal Bontizer keeps the twists coming. There are surprises aplenty.

In the end, it becomes a wild ride, but all the pieces come together nicely before the final credits roll.

The Stolen Painting is both engaging and entertaining.

Rated M, it scores a 7½ out of 10.