“A cinematic masterwork about a painted masterpiece.” Huffington Post“ "(A) bombshell!” Variety " Portrait of Wally does itself proud." Los Angeles Times "Works like a suspense drama!" Chicago Tribune "... engaging account of a landmark case." Indie WirePortrait of Wally, Egon Schiele’s tender picture of his mistress, Walburga (“Wally”) Neuzil, is the pride of the Leopold Museum in Vienna. But for 13 years the painting was locked up in New York, caught in a legal battle between the Austrian museum and the Jewish family from whom the Nazis seized the painting in 1939. The film traces the history of this iconic image – from Schiele’s gesture of affection toward his young lover, to the theft of the painting from Lea Bondi, a Jewish art dealer fleeing Vienna for her life, to the post-war confusion and subterfuge that evoke The Third Man, to the surprise resurfacing of “Wally” on loan to the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan in 1997 and the legal battle that followed. 7th Art Releasing
Film Sponsored by Bernie and Carol Toobin
- Tribeca Film Festival
- Boston Jewish Film Festival
- Toronto International Film Festival
- Seattle Jewish Film Festival
- Miami Jewish Film Festival
- New York Jewish Film Festival
- DocAviv Documentary Festival
Judah Best
Speaker: Judah Best, Attorney
$10 in advance, $15 at the door
Temple Beth Shalom Upper Sanctuary
205 E. Barcelona Road
505.982.1376
Was art stolen during the Holocaust? If so, by whom? What is the history of stolen (looted) art in World War II? How are American Museums reacting to claims that they possess looted art? Don't miss this thought-provoking program. Judah (Judd) Best is a graduate of Cornell University (AB, English) and Columbia University School of Law (LLB). He is a member of the Bars of the State of New York and of the District of Columbia. Judd is a white collar trial lawyer who has represented U.S. Senators and Congressmen. He also represented the Democratic National Committee in the fundraising investigations during the Clinton presidency. Mr. Best lives near Washington, D.C., where he is a board member of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. He has a second home in Santa Fe.
Andrew Shea
Andrew is a versatile, award-winning director and screenwriter who has enjoyed success in film, television and theatre. His films have premiered at several of the most prestigious and selective film festivals in the world, including the Cannes Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival and the South by Southwest Film Festival.
Andrew began his career in Santa Fe, where he founded the New Mexico Repertory Theatre, a regional professional company that grew to become the largest theatre in the history of the state. In the early 90s Andrew moved to Los Angeles, where he opened a new chapter of his career as an independent feature filmmaker and television writer. His films credits include Santa Fe, Corndog Man and Forfeit.Andrew has a M.F.A. from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Art and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.