L’ANTIQUAIRE/ THE ART DEALER

France, 2015, 93 minutes, Colour.

Anna Sigalevitch, Michel Bouquet, Robert Hirsch, François Berleand, Louis-Do de Lencauesaing, Adam Sigalevitch, Alice de Lenzquesaing, Neils Schneider, Benjamin Siksou, Fabienne Babe.

Directed by François Margolin.

Stolen treasures by the Nazis has been a topic of several dramas like The Monuments Men and Woman in Gold. This French drama was made at much the same time as the other films.

We are introduced to a journalist, Esther, played by Anna Sigalevitch, whose husband is an art dealer and auctioneer. When he brings home a celebrated painting, her father, son of an art dealer who was executed by the Nazis at the beginning of World War II, recognises the painting.

This leads to Esther’s quest, going into archives, discovering documents about so many artworks appropriated by the Nazis, government decisions at the end of the war, the lack of recovery of paintings by the owners…

Esther is certainly an intense searcher, almost relentless, initially critical of her father marrying again soon after his wife’s death, advised by an art expert who is condemned as a collaborator during the war, who gives her a 16 mm print of home movies of her parents. There is also the complication of her uncle, a war hero in the resistance, a friend of a German entrepreneur.

There are many steps in Esther’s quest, tension in her marriage, her reliance on her son for help, and, solutions and public tirade against her uncle at a funeral. Her uncle is played by veteran French actor, Michel Bouquet.

A topic that is always interesting.

1. The title and expectations? Art, paintings, classics, ownership, Nazis taking paintings, fraud, restorative justice?
2. The two time periods, the home movies, black and white and colour, before the war, the outbreak of the war, the husband and wife, love for each other, the baby, art galleries, class and his visit from Germany, the proposal to transport the paintings, through Switzerland, Gene agreeing? The aftermath, his execution, Jeanne and her relationship with Klaus?
3. The 20^th century, the death of Jeanne, 2002? The introduction to the film, the opening with her song, the applause, the tone of the character? Her relationship with her father, resentment at his marrying again, so soon? Her relationship with her husband, with her son?
4. Melchior, art dealer, the visit to the house, assessing the paintings, taking away the classic for appraising? Esther seeing it at home? Simon and his vague memories? Opening up the issue of Nazis taking paintings, issues after the war, galleries, restitution is, fraud? Government action and inaction?
5. Esther, her quest, visiting archives, her son getting the autograph from her father and enabling her to enter? The helpful assistant at the archives, getting the vast documents, 600 records of artworks? Her investigations, hundreds missing? Suspicions, thinking she was being followed, that her son was being followed? Tensions with her husband, his commitment to his work and auctions, busy? Returning at the archives, the new assistant, the mislaid documents, her being ousted?
6. Claude, accused of collaboration, falsely, friendship with the family, discussions with Esther, his giving her the 16mm film? His later confrontation with Raoul, the argument, his death, the funeral?
7. Raoul, in the resistance, in Britain, considered British citizenship, the key to his owning the paintings and administering them? The relationship with Klaus, before the war before the war, his plans, relationship with Raoul, continuing – and the anomaly of the actor appearing not to have aged? Esther and her meetings with Raoul, his deceptions, her exposing him, his denials? At Claude’s funeral, her public denunciation? The news of his suicide?
8. Melchior, the auction sequences, withdrawing the painting in question, not auctioning appropriated paintings during the war? The support of Esther? Esther and her relationship with her son, his helping her, their discussions? Jewish and half Jewish?
9. Simon, his reactions to the investigations, to Esther’s hostility to his marrying Fabienne, the change, the wedding celebration, the vigorous dancing? Esther getting his autograph? His reluctance to think about the past, his mother, Esther getting him to watch the old film? Claude’s funeral? Relationship with Raoul?
10. The author, his expose of war appropriations, postwar arrangements, cover-ups? Esther going to his session, the discussion?
11. The various authorities, collaborating, not, documentation?
12. Esther and her achievement, continuing issue of artworks, Nazis and the war?