The upcoming post-WWII thriller “The Last Vermeer” (formerly titled “Lyrebird“) aims to put a different spin on the typical film in this subgenre. Instead of just focusing on the crimes of the Nazis during WWII, the new film instead turns the focus on a piece of art and how the Nazis gained control of it.
“The Last Vermeer,” as the title suggests, follows the true story of a painting discovered by a soldier who is going through the artifacts left by the Nazis. The Vermeer painting in question is a very rare work of art that would have commanded a high price tag, so the soldier, along with his assistant, begins his investigation into who sold the work to Nazis and why.
The drama stars Guy Pearce, Claes Bang, and Vicky Krieps. Pearce is a known quantity at this point, but it is fun to see him with a wig and facial hair. Bang is, of course, best known for his role in “The Square,” but recently he’s appeared in the film “The Burnt Orange Heresy,” as well as the recent Netflix/BBC series “Dracula.” Krieps, on the other hand, is best known for her role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Phantom Thread,” but she was also recently seen in Mia Hansen-Løve’s film “Bergman Island.”
“The Last Vermeer” arrives in theaters, courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics, on May 22.
Here’s the synopsis:
Joseph Piller (Claes Bang), a soldier & member of the Dutch resistance, now investigates stolen art. Along with his brilliant assistant (Vicky Krieps), he looks into the astonishing accusation that the flamboyant Dutch painter Han van Meegeren (Guy Pearce) sold a Vermeer to the Nazis. Despite mounting evidence, Piller becomes increasingly convinced of his innocence and finds himself in the unlikely position of fighting to save the life of the colorful man with a mysterious past.