User Reviews

Let me start this review by naming the best thing about this documentary: You don't need to know anything about art to enjoy it. There's so many documentaries out there during which you just get lost if you don't know the basics about the topic or even if you don't possess deeper knowledge. You would not understand what they are talking about at all. This one is different. You don't need to know famous artists, their works or the main differences between renaissance and baroque. The one part, where it gets a bit specific, namely when they explain how he got caught after 40 years, is explained very well, so you will understand it in any case. Actually I would go so far and say that this is almost more of a dark comedy than a documentary. In any case, it was directed and written by Arne Birkenstock, one of Germany's most known documentary makers these days.

The center of it all is Wolfgang Beltracchi, a forger. On the one hand he is a criminal who caused lots of financial damage, on the other he is truly a funny guy and it's hard to not like him from the impression you get in this film. He was sentenced to jail for what he did, but got lucky he was allowed to spend his sentence in open prison, especially when looking at how wealthy he was and how well he lived before he got caught. Today, after spending his sentence, he still makes good money with his paintings thanks to his unique past. At one point he says that it is a bit of a pity that he is not making millions (anymore) with his art and it's pretty hard not to smile.

This documentary includes 90 truly entertaining minutes and I recommend watching it. Scenes like when he puts a Beltracchi tattoo on a fellow inmate or the way they reenacted an old photo for their scheme or how his kids describe his "work" that he painted something here and there will never make you feel bored.

I love this kind of story, where a ¨fraud¨ unmasks frauds. Rudy Kurniawan did the same thing for the wine world by rebottling cheap wine and selling it as vintage. It took years for anyone to figure it out. I consider these figures to be descendants of Socrates. They are posing fundamental questions about what such institutions (the art world, the wine world) have become.

The most amusing part of the story is that not only this forger but also all of the gallery owners, ¨experts¨, and auctioneers whom he duped (and who despise him now) derive their income from the creativity of others. In fact, they are all parasites, so why not consider them morally equivalent? Many power brokers in the art world actively exploit artists, which it seems to safe to say Beltracchi never did.

One of the most interesting questions raised by the film is what an artist truly is. If artists break the rules, then Beltracchi qualifies. Putting the ¨artist¨ back in ¨con artist¨! Well-behaved people, those who accept what they are told to do and be, are not really artists, after all. By definition, they create something new by breaking what were the rules of the game--think of Duchamp, among other modern artists. Of course, such a view may seem to imply that criminals more generally are also artists, but there is no denying that this particular fraudster was artistically talented. He did not copy existent paintings but created paintings in the manner of X, which takes a good deal of knowledge of art history, in addition to technical proficiency. His lack of remorse reveals that he takes himself to be doing more than simply earning money. His view seems to be that the entire art world is a sham, so why not play along with that game and win?

Well, I like Beltracchi. He stands by his life, his only regret being that he used titanium white when it would not have been available to the artists whose works he faked. And I agree with him about this (if it is indeed his view): the capitalized art world has become a bad joke.

The art world is a strange and hardly understandable place. Who in their right mind would pay thousands much less millions for an art object that eventually will turn to dust? We all have questioned this, unless you are an idiot. Are you paying for the artist's talent (doubt it) or the rarity of the art (and who cares anyway)? Wolfgang Beltracchi is likely one of the most talented artists to have ever lived. This man is a genius in many ways, perhaps only on the right side of his brain. He basically saw a capitalist opportunity and took it. We all want money and not an endless struggle in life. Do you know how hard it is to make money at art? I am an artist myself in photography and painting but not even close to as talented as Wolfgang. You can't make money unless you fool people most of the time. Talent is of no importance as you will see at the end of the film. You have to make your stuff seem fantastic (the entire time laughing at the stupidity of people). Art dealers are the worst and most foolish people in the art game (and it is a game)! As the emphasis in this documentary will show, once people "want" to believe something is real, the rest is easy. This documentary is perfect at showing not only the extreme talent of Wolfgang but the absolute foolishness of the art market. I believe that was somewhat the point of the film. I challenge you to watch it and not think that. I was glued to the screen throughout the documentary and shocked in some way. I agree that if you go by modern standards, Wolfgang stole money from people. Really there is no difference in the end result if a man goes into a house and steals a million in cash and if the same man sells a fake product and gets a million. Either way it is unarmed theft and illegal. This documentary is presented well and filmed well. You will not be disappointed if you watch it and love documentaries. It is not long and moves quickly keeping you in your seat.