In a fascinating true story, Woman in Gold introduces us to Maria Altman (played by Helen Mirren). Maria is in her eighties, a Jewish refugee who fled from Austria sixty years ago and now lives in the United States. The film begins after the death of her sister and the life-changing discovery of some letters dating back to the late 1940s. The letters reveal attempts to recover artwork owned by Maria’s family which had been stolen by the Nazi’s during World War II.
Particularly important to her was the renowned Gustave Klimt painting of her much loved aunt “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I”, often referred to as the "Woman in Gold". Maria gains help from a young lawyer named Randy Schoeberg (played by Ryan Reynolds) in her mission to recover the Woman in Gold together with several other pieces from the Austrian Government who believe these artworks to be their national treasures.
Throughout the film, Maria experiences flashbacks of the Nazi forces oppression of her local Jewish community, and the confiscation of family and community property. We learn of the frightening escape attempt from Vienna she made with members of her family and the consequences experienced by those who did not make it.
Together with Randy, who has little experience in the field, they take on the Art Restitution Board in Austria. Maria finds herself not only aiming to have the “family portrait” returned to her, but she has an innate urge to achieve some measure of justice for those who suffered. Maria and Randy clash over the direction they should take after they hit road-blocks, and the plan begins to stumble.
Woman in Gold in in Cinemas Nationally from Thursday 21st May
