THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF (2020)

Genre: Documentary
Director: Benjamin Ree
Cast: Barbora Kysilkova, Karl-Bertil Nordland 
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Nudity)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: https://kinolounge.shaw.sg/film/the-painter-and-the-thief/

Opening Day: 10 July 2020

Synopsis: Desperate for answers about the theft of her 2 paintings, a Czech artist seeks out and befriends the career criminal who stole them. After inviting her thief to sit for a portrait, the two form an improbable relationship and an inextricable bond that will forever link these lonely souls.

Movie Review:

This documentary has a premise that sounds like a tale lifted from a fictional screenplay. An artist creates two paintings that would have otherwise cost a lot to procure. They get stolen almost effortlessly from the gallery. The artist gets to know the thief, and the two individuals form an unlikely bond. People who steal aren’t exactly a likeable bunch, but we have heard enough stories to know that they did it for a reason. This film goes beyond that, and adopts an engaging approach for viewers to get to know not just the thief, but also the painter in an in depth manner.

In fact, this writer has never seen a story told like this before. That’s probably why the independent production was recognised with the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Creative Storytelling at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

The titular painter is Barbora Kysilkova, and the documentary wastes no time in setting up the story arc. Within the first few moments of the 102 minute film, we see her paintings get whisked off an art gallery, and the culprits were identified in no time. She comes in contact with Karl Bertil Nordland, the man who stole her artwork, and makes an odd request to paint him. He agrees, and what follows is an interesting dynamic between the two people, where we get to learn their painful past, what’s important to them at that point in time, and what they hope life has in store for them.

Initially, one would think that the film is about uncovering Nordland’s life story through Kysilkova’s eyes. But as the documentary progresses, you hear Nordland sharing what he has learnt about Kysilkova. At that moment, you realise the painter is also revealing things about herself that she may not have shared with others or is unaware of. This is where you witness a friendship forming out of the most unusual circumstances.

The film does not sugarcoat the protagonists’ lives. You wonder whether Nordland will head back to a life of crime, and through how Kysilkova’s romantic relationship with her partner will be affected due to this new friendship. The soundbites reflect hard and gritty truths about life, and you may take a moment to think about others who are going through trying times. As a viewer, you feel like you are right beside the protagonists as they go about their lives. The camerawork is not intrusive, and you almost feel like a guest in the duo’s presence.

Directed by Benjamin Ree, the documentary brings viewers to Norwayto get a glimpse into the lives of middle class, and how a talented individual and a drug addict criminal come together during a time when they are facing challenges. The result is a sensitive and beautiful portrayal of human to human interaction. Amid Nordland’s harsh tattoos and unruly brawn, Kysilkova’s presence brings out something delicate. Similarly, despite Kysilkova’s acquired taste for fine art, Nordland brings out the survival instinct inside her. The unlikely individuals, as different as they are, complement each other perfectly.

This is a film that we need now – a piece of work that will make us appreciate human relationships.   

Movie Rating:

(A delicate and sensitive film that makes you appreciate the dynamics of human relationships)

Review by John Li