The Painter and the Thief – A Sobering Tale of Forgiveness and Growth

The Painter and the Thief follows a painter named Barbora Kysilkova who’s painting got stolen by a group including a man named Karl Bertil-Nordland. Once Kysilkova gets the opportunity to contact Bertil-Nordland, an unlikely friendship providing some fascinating insight of the human psyche. It is also a riveting and introspective film about the human condition. This isn’t a film you will only appreciate if you are apart of the art world. However, it is about much more then that. In the end, it is about personal growth and the inner demons that prevent us from showing our true potential as artists and as human beings.

Not many films in recent memory saw two subjects transform into different people by the last scene of the film. Their journey over the course of The Painter and the Thief was something to behold, unravelling in unexpected ways while also being inspiring and truthful. Some of the best dialogue features people talking and not writing down a word and this documentary is proof of that. The filmmakers simply keep the camera still and letting their two subjects talk about art, life, philosophy, death and spirituality and it’s just fascinating being in the moment.

The Painter and the Thief is a dynamic film with a very linear story with rising action, climax and falling action therefore it’s incredible how everything was weaved into a cohesive whole. Meanwhile, the cinematography also helps make this film feel really cinematic, creating a “fly on the wall” feel with some beautiful shots and incredible framing. It is a cathartic experience that is honest and fair with its two subjects, showing their humanity and flaws in a profound way. Viewers will get a true picture as the film never polishes them but rather shows them at their most vulnerable. The best documentaries do this as they give viewers a unique insight and a different perspective of the human experience.

One of the most profound aspects of the film is the theme of forgiveness. Kysilkova grills Bertil-Nordland first for his mistakes and his foggy memory of events though as the film continues, she gets to know more of the latter and his upbringing and starts to feel for him. She eventually realizes that he is just a damaged person like herself. Shifting perspectives from Kysilkova to Bertil-Nordland, we see how he lives a life of pain and regret. Kysilkova shows him compassion and even paints a portrait of him he is profoundly moved by. Someone cares about him and that is what makes all the difference in his life. Then Bertil-Nordland soon realizes Kysilkova’s own inner demons and how they aren’t as different as they thought. To quote Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them”. This film is the perfect example of that quote. It would have been easy to see Bertil-Nordland as sleazy and as the villain. Just looking at him gives you the creeps at first. Yet, he’s a sweet man who just got dealt a bad hand and made several poor choices.

Overall, The Painter and the Thief is certainly a documentary worth checking out as it should be one worthy of recognition come award time despite the fact that it could have gone a little deeper in some areas and fleshed out relationships. However as a film, this is a fascinating look at what makes people ache and inspire them to be better.

still courtesy of Elevation Pictures

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Brett Schutt

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