The Last Vermeer

After the war, Hermann Göring's stash of stolen art is found. Among them is a Vermeer painting titled Christ and the Adulteress. Joseph Piller investigates how it ended up there. The Dutch Jew was a tailor before the war. He joined the resistance and is now a Canadian Captain in the Allied Command. He traces the painting back to uncooperative art dealer Han Van Meegeren (Guy Pearce). The Allies are slowly being replaced by the Dutch government and Piller has to solve the mystery before losing his case.

I don't know anything about the history which is part of the point of the movie. It's rare to be completely surprised these days but this one takes an unexpected turn. It's a fine crime drama and mystery for the first half. I did find Van Meegeren's reticent somewhat repetitive until the reveal changes it all. I was expecting a vast conspiracy but this has something on a more human level from everybody like Piller's wife and Dirk Hannema. It's a fascinating true story.