By Rachel Galvin

The art world is not without its difficulties. Finding precious art, getting a buyer, selling it at auction … it’s not always so easy. When a pretentious art auctioneer Andre,’ played by Alex Lutz, learns of a lost painting, he goes to investigate. Is it genuine? It is. Lost in the ravages of World War II, the Egon Schiele painting now hangs unassuming on the wall of a blue collar worker … a young man living in a small town with his widowed mother. Next, Andre’ must determine if the family is willing to part with the precious find once they discover its outstanding value and return it to its rightful owners, after it had been taken away by the Nazis. Next, he has to make sure the family auctions it to the highest bidder and does not get sidetracked along the way. This all has its own challenges and stress.

But some of the biggest dramas come from his precocious and headstrong young intern, played by Louise Chevillotte. The dealings with her father figures and with the boss prove to be the most unstable moments in this film. Another player in the mix is his ex-wife and art appraiser, played by Léa Drucker.

Every time it seems this film will have a big twist, it stays the course. Again, other than the family dramas that color the personality of the intern, there are not too many minutes that stray away from the main plot points of the film. It stays the course and leads to an interesting conclusion. What will become of the young man who sold the painting? And what of the intern? Will it all go smoothly? Much is on the line.

There is an element of character study in the film as each person has a multi-layered personality. Andre’ has drinks to calm his nerves and deals with challenges with his work stability and bumps against the boss along the way, like two bulls in the ring. The intern has a lot of internal anger she takes out using insults and lies. The ex-wife is more subtle in her candor, trying to work her way into the mix and find out information. The young man selling the painting shows a moral nature but an extreme shyness and fear. The actors had a lot to work with in these roles.

This drama by Menemsha Films opens tomorrow, Dec. 5, at Movies of Delray. It is told in French with English subtitles.