WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
Taking the director’s chair for his second major film effort, Simon Curtis brings to life the true story of Austrian-born Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), whose discovered letters left behind by her deceased sister that indicate precious artwork stolen from the family home back in Austria during the Nazi regime has a chance to be brought back into her possession. The added value of these is found in one particular work done for the family by renowned Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt, entitled “Woman In Gold” to hide the subject’s Jewish lineage, a portrait of Maria’s beloved Aunt Adele (Antje Traue). As the restitution regulations for works of art become more open, Maria ultimately seeks out the aid of lawyer Randol Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), son of a family friend whose own genealogical history is rooted in both Austria and famous relatives. Hesitant to take on the task, further digging by Randol prompts him to find they have a case to present. A return to their familial homeland ensues, much to the initial reluctance of Maria, whose Nazi-besieged younger days are periodically shown in flashback form. Finding aid from an unexpected source in investigative reporter Hubertus Czernin (Daniel Bruhl), Randol and Maria embark on what becomes a tedious and emotionally trying bid to convince the Austrian government to release the painting and others associated with Maria’s lineage. Randol’s dogged perseverance and Maria’s final determination to face her past and fight for family justice comes to the forefront as they each aim to restore a proud family’s treasures.
As with virtually any film based on real life/true events has been for this reviewer, “Woman In Gold” stands to illustrate the power of patience, steadfastness, persistence, and a willingness to let go of the past in order to preserve it. Given the fact that, per one of the film’s pre-end credits notes, that over 100,000 works of art stolen by the Nazis during that period have yet to be returned to their rightful owners, it puts an even more potent exclamation mark on the efforts Randol and Maria chose to enact to retrieve her family’s items. As one would expect, Mirren completely shines as Maria, making you thoroughly and unconditionally relate to her both as a person and as someone whose fierce loyalty to her family and their legacy will not be thwarted, even as she does battle the ghosts and painful memories of that history. Reynolds is charming and self-effacing as Randol, a man who also has deep ties to his own Austrian past, which become even more evident and deeply impacting on him as he aids Maria in her quest. Supporting turns by actors like Bruhl, Charles Dance, Katie Holmes, and Max Irons assist in rounding out the story in total. Beautifully filmed with sequences present and past in Austria and back in the U.S., “Woman In Gold” is another victory in showing what lengths we will go to in order to maintain, respect, and honor the traditions of family record.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
