Auction

On a day like any other, André Masson, a haughty auctioneer, receives an intriguing request. A provincial lawyer believes that her young working class client may have acquired a work of art long thought to be lost during World War II. Keeping his expectations low, André travels to the suburbs with his fickle assistant to meet Martin, a chemical plant worker, to appraise the painting. Their skepticism quickly turns to astonishment when they realize the painting is authentic. Standing face to face with an Egon Schiele masterpiece, André realizes this discovery could undoubtedly be the turning point of his career, but after a brief investigation they learn the artwork was stolen.

This powerful ensemble drama raises complex questions about moral obligations and ethics in a highbrow world of high art fueled by money and power. Writer-director Pascal Bonitzer, a prominent multitalented figure in French cinema over the last four decades, deftly handles these questions, as well as the lively cast of characters, with nimbleness and a sincere concern for restitution.