In 1939, Nazis seized control of Austrian art collector Lea Bondi's beloved Egon Schiele painting "Portrait of Wally." For 70 years the Bondi family fought to reclaim the painting in a battle that pitted them against the likes of the Austrian government, billionaire art collectors, MoMA, and NPR. Director Andrew Shea's documentary is a fascinating and intricate detective story that highlights the struggle between doing what is right and doing what is convenient.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Andrew Shea, critic and journalist David D'Arcy, Jane Kallir of Galerie St. Etienne, historian and attorney Willi Korte, and Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Sharon Cohen Levin about the issues of provenance and the global sharing of art in museums. Moderated by Monica Dugot, International Director of Restitution and Senior Vice President at Christie's.
Note: The After the Movie conversation will happen after the Saturday, 4/28 screening only.
CAST & CREDITS
Directed by Andrew Shea
Andrew Shea is an award-winning director and screenwriter who has enjoyed success in film, television, and theater. His films include Forfeit, which premiered at SXSW, The Corndog Man, which premiered at Sundance, and the short Take My Breath Away, which premiered at Cannes Critics Week.