Taglines: The fight for justice never ends.
In a series of flashbacks throughout the film, Maria Altmann recalls the arrival of Nazi forces in Vienna, Austria, and the subsequent suppression of the Jewish community and the looting and pillaging conducted by the Nazis against Jewish families. Seeking to escape before the country is completely shut off, Maria Altmann and members of her family attempt to flee to the United States. While Altmann is successful in her escape, she is forced to abandon her parents in Vienna.
In the present, living in Los Angeles, a now elderly Altmann attends the funeral for her sister. She discovers letters in her sister’s possession dating to the late 1940s, which reveal an attempt to recover artwork owned by the Altmann family that was left behind during the family’s flight for freedom and subsequently stolen by the Nazis. Of particular note is a painting of Altmann’s aunt, now known in Austria as the “Woman in Gold”.
Altmann enlists the help of Randol Schoenberg, a lawyer with little experience, to make a claim to the art restitution board in Austria. Reluctantly returning to her homeland, Altmann discovers that the country’s minister and art director are unwilling to part with the painting, which they feel has become part of the national identity. Altmann is told that the painting was in fact legitimately willed to the gallery by her Aunt.
Upon further investigation by her lawyer and Austrian journalist Hubertus Czernin, this claim proves to be incorrect, as the alleged will is invalid due to the fact that her Aunt did not own the painting in question, the artist’s fee having been paid by her Uncle. Schoenberg files a challenge with the art restitution board, but it is denied and Altmann does not have the money needed to challenge the ruling. Defeated, she and Schoenberg return to the United States.
Months thereafter, happening upon an art book with “Woman in Gold” on the cover, Schoenberg has an epiphany. Using a loop hole and precedents in which an art restitution law was retroactively applied, Schoenberg files a claim in US court against the Austrian government contesting their claim to the painting. An appeal goes to the Supreme Court of the United States, where in the matter of Republic of Austria v. Altmann, the court rules in Altmann’s favor, which results in the Austrian government attempting to persuade Altmann to retain the painting for the gallery, which she refuses. After a falling out over the issue of returning to Austria for a second time to argue the case, Altmann fires Schoenberg, who then takes it upon himself to carry on the case of his own accord.
In Austria, the art restitution board hears the case, during which time they are reminded of the Nazi Regime’s war crimes by Schoenberg. Schoenberg implores the art restitution board to think of the meaning of the word restitution and to look past the artwork hanging in art galleries to see the injustice to the families who once owned such great paintings and were forcibly separated from them by the Nazis.
Unexpectedly, Altmann arrives to speak before the board, reminding them of the atrocities of the Nazi regime and that while the gallery may see in the Woman in Gold a national treasure, she sees a family portrait. After making their respective cases, the art restitution board ultimately sides with Altmann, returning her painting. Altmann then elects to have the painting moved to the United States with her, and takes up an offer made earlier by a New York gallery to display the painting on condition that it be a permanent exhibit.
Woman in Gold
Directed by: Simon Curtis
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl, Tatiana Maslany, Katie Holmes, Antje Traue, Charles Dance, Frances Fisher, Neve Gachev
Screenplay by: Alexi Kaye Campbell
Production Design by: Jim Clay
Cinematography by: Ross Emery
Film Editing by: Peter Lambert
Art Direction by: Andrew Ackland-Snow
Music by: Martin Phipps, Hans Zimmer
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some thematic elements and brief strong language.
Studio: The Weinstein Company
Release Date: April 1, 2015
Visits: 66
