Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery (2014)

A mesmerizing, thought-provoking yet surprisingly amusing documentary on the life and times of Wolfgang Beltracchi, who tricked the international art world for nearly 40 years by forging ... See full summary »

Director:

Arne Birkenstock

Writer:

Arne Birkenstock

Stars:

Wolfgang Beltracchi, Helene Beltracchi, Henrik Hanstein

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Wolfgang Beltracchi	...	Self
Helene Beltracchi	...	Self
Henrik Hanstein	...	Self
James Roundell	...	Self
Monsieur Ommeslaghe	...	Self (as Bernhard Van Ommeslaghe)
Madame Ommeslaghe	...	Self
Sofia Komarova	...	Self
Niklas Maak	...	Self
René Allonge	...	Self
Henry Keazor	...	Self

Storyline

A mesmerizing, thought-provoking yet surprisingly amusing documentary on the life and times of Wolfgang Beltracchi, who tricked the international art world for nearly 40 years by forging and selling paintings of early 20th-century masters. A larger-than-life personality who was responsible for the biggest art forgery scandal of the postwar era.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Crime

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Don't Be No Run Around
Written by Olaf Didolff

User Reviews

Lost translation, Found Wit and Color

Beltracchi's journey is what some will deem despicable and others like myself will look at with awe. Birkenstock has captured Wolfgang and Helene Beltracchi's rise and fall of undermining the art world with poise. The film follows the couple through their estate, dinner parties with friends, and old rounds of gathering supplies, reminiscent of the days before their arrest. The victims of the Beltracchi's are visited and recall their time acquiring one of his forgeries. The movie is subtitled as it is mainly in German, but also features some French and English. Although the story is told clearly by Wolfgang, Helen, and others involved in his master scheme, in the translation the attention to small details like the emotions Wolfgang felt painting at the same place as many artists of the Fauvist movement are lost. That set aside, Birkenstock makes sure to let both sides have their say in terms of the ethics behind forgery. One theme is carried throughout—Wolfgang is not sorry and it's up to the viewer to agree or not.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Germany

Language:

German English French

Release Date:

6 March 2014 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery

Filming Locations:

Mèze, Hérault, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$168,238

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fruitmarket Kultur und Medien, Tradewind Pictures, Telepool

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1