Guy Pearce (The Infernal Machine) plays the artist superbly well in every respect as he camps about like he’s Oscar Wilde with fancy speech, attire and looks. Claes Bang plays Joseph Piller, a (Jewish) soldier charged with the task of reclaiming art treasures stolen by the Nazis and weeding out Dutch people who have sold it to them during the war - and Van Meegeren falls within his radar during his investigations. It becomes clear though that some Dutch government officials have their own ideas about the actions of the military and want to do things their own way, with an apparent agenda of their own - wanting the world to leave them to their own devices.
There’s lots of evidence growing against Van Meegeren but Piller becomes convinced that he’s actually innocent and ends up protecting the man against abuse from the public and the other officials as he takes up his case. In the end, he engages a lawyer and takes the case to court where he tries to demonstrate the innocence of the flamboyant artist at the centre.
It’s very nicely shot, directed and produced as the slow start gathers pace and never lets up really until the finale, when all is revealed and we find out the truth of the matter. Or do we? I guess some dramatic licence has been taken and it’s not all exactly as history would have it, but certainly it looks like the main characters existed and core hub of the story is based on the truth of the matter.
Certainly worth a look as it’s well acted and presented, makes for a compelling story and Guy Pearce commands throughout. Recommended.
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