Van Meegeren profited greatly from selling Johannes Vermeer paintings to high-ranking German officials during the war. After hostilities ended he was charged with selling Dutch cultural property to the Nazis and faced a possible death sentence. During the trial, he used the defense that he actually forged the paintings and thus was able to avoid capital punishment.

Starting as an investigative yarn, the film features Danish actor Claes Bang playing Captain Joseph Piller, who is tasked with ferreting out war profiteers and collaborators in Holland. The film switches gear midway through and turns into a courtroom drama and gives Pearce the chance to preen with abandon. Van Meegeren is now considered to be one of history’s greatest forgers.

The film takes great artist license (pun intended) with the actual story and Van Meegeren’s life is even more interesting than the one presented on screen. Although his forgery defense was successful at avoiding the firing squad he was still convicted of falsification and fraud charges but died of a heart attack before he had to serve his one-year sentence. In all, he duped buyers out of the equivalent of almost a quarter of a billion dollars in today’s money.

Rob Hudson
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Despite mounting evidence, Piller becomes increasingly convinced of Han’s innocence and finds himself in the unlikely position of fighting to save the life of the colourful man with a mysterious past. The film also features Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread).

The Last Vermeer will be released in Australian cinemas March 25!
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