Movie Review of Woman in Gold

Review by Gerti

Gustav Klimt is an artist from turn-of-the-century Vienna whose work you either love or hate.  I happen to love it, and saw many canvases in person in a gallery in Vienna when I visited many years ago.  One of Klimt's most famous works is often called "Woman in Gold", just like the name of this movie, but it is actually the portrait of Adele Bloc-Bauer, and this movie is the story of Adele's niece, Maria Altmann, and her fight with Austria to get that popular picture back.

Actress Helen Mirren plays Altmann, an emigre from Austria in the 1930's now residing in America.  She and several lucky members of her family fled when the Nazi's took over Austria and made things difficult for Jewish people.  They left with just the clothes on their backs, and the Nazi's took away their businesses and possessions, which for Maria's family included 5 gorgeous Klimt pictures.

Several decades after WWII, the new Austrian government wanted to make things right for the families who had been robbed by the prewar policies.  Maria spotted an article about it in the New York Times which made her wonder is she could get their families pictures back as well.  Her friend's son is a young and inexperienced lawyer named Randy Schoenberg, played handsomely by Ryan Reynolds.  His family also emigrated from Austria, and they are related to famous composer Arthur Schoenberg, which shows that they are also cultured people.  Randy is captivated by Maria's hard-luck story and plucky personality, and decides to make the trip to Europe to see if he can help reclaim her treasures.

As a young Austrian reporter says, though, the "Woman in Gold" is Austria's Mona Lisa, and that country is very reluctant to return it, despite their desire for good publicity, and justice.  They claim Adele's will says it goes to the Belvedere Gallery, but Randy and Maria prove that since Adele's husband bought the pictures, and he outlived her, it's his will that dictates what happens to them, and he gave the to Maria.  Austria continues to fight, this time using money as a weapon, andRandy has to take the legal case to the US Supreme Court (and win) before Austria finally agree to mediate.  Throughout the movie, Maria wants to come to an agreement with the Austrian museum, but they make it very hard on her, as do her many memories of ther final frantic days in that nation in 1938.

This move will move you to tears, and make you laugh.  It is a fascinating story of how Austria finally makes things right for he elderly American lady.  The acting is top notch, the story is well written and the music beautiful, including some phrases I recognized from a movie adaptation of Jane Austen's "Persuasion."  The film is also visually appealing, with Austria's beautiful urban scenery contrasting sharply with the incomprehensible horrors of its past.  There is a happy ending, with Austria doing the right thing, and it is nice to see Maria vindicated, and Randy getting his career started with such a rousing success.  With no graphic images to frighten younger viewers, I heartily recommend this stunning "Woman in Gold".