The Rape of Europa is the most compelling rendition of the systematic Nazi pillage of art works during the Second World War. It covers in great detail the megalomaniacal and fanatical acquisition of precious paintings, sculptures and furniture by the Nazi elites especially Hitler and Goering.
The plunder is of official government and private galleries in Poland, Russia, France and Italy but an enduring sub-plot is the widespread confiscation of the substantial collections of wealthy Jews across Europe. It also thoroughly covers the incredible efforts of the so-called Monuments Men, an assembled group of US art experts seconded to the US Army and given the seemingly insurmountable task of finding and rescuing the plundered art and attempts to preserve as much of precious art works in France and Italy during the Allied advances. It chronicles the incredible efforts undertaken to hide the vast treasures of the Louvre in Paris by the stashing of art works across numerous remote chateaux.
3 extraordinary stories stand out. 1 - The tale of Austrian painter Kustav Klimt's famous portrait of family friend Adele Bloch-Bauer. 2 - The heroic catalogue of all the art plundered from various galleries in Paris by the unassuming and diminutive curator Rose Valland whose diary enabled the rescue of hundreds of stolen art works. 3 - An emotional end to the film shows a German researcher who finds descendants of Jews whose priceless religious items such as gold and silver Menorahs and silver Torah Crowns (the adorned ends of Torah scrolls) were stolen. He travels to New York to witness the emotional reunion of a family to this symbol of their faith.
A fantastic portrayal of one of the most intriguing and compelling chapters of WW2.
The plunder is of official government and private galleries in Poland, Russia, France and Italy but an enduring sub-plot is the widespread confiscation of the substantial collections of wealthy Jews across Europe. It also thoroughly covers the incredible efforts of the so-called Monuments Men, an assembled group of US art experts seconded to the US Army and given the seemingly insurmountable task of finding and rescuing the plundered art and attempts to preserve as much of precious art works in France and Italy during the Allied advances. It chronicles the incredible efforts undertaken to hide the vast treasures of the Louvre in Paris by the stashing of art works across numerous remote chateaux.
3 extraordinary stories stand out. 1 - The tale of Austrian painter Kustav Klimt's famous portrait of family friend Adele Bloch-Bauer. 2 - The heroic catalogue of all the art plundered from various galleries in Paris by the unassuming and diminutive curator Rose Valland whose diary enabled the rescue of hundreds of stolen art works. 3 - An emotional end to the film shows a German researcher who finds descendants of Jews whose priceless religious items such as gold and silver Menorahs and silver Torah Crowns (the adorned ends of Torah scrolls) were stolen. He travels to New York to witness the emotional reunion of a family to this symbol of their faith.
A fantastic portrayal of one of the most intriguing and compelling chapters of WW2.