96 mins |
Rated
M (Coarse language and a sex scene)
Directed by Roger Michell
Starring Matthew Goode, Anna Maxwell Martin, Fionn Whitehead, Craig Conway, Aimée Kelly, Jack Bandeira, Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren
Based on a real art theft, the great Jim Broadbent stars as an older taxi driver who stole a priceless portrait from London's National Gallery. His ransom to be: Free television for the elderly! From the director of Notting Hill, co-starring Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey) and the almighty Helen Mirren.
In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history.
Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly - he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television.
What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge - Kempton had spun a web of lies. The only truth was that he was a good man, determined to change the world and save his marriage - how and why he used the Duke to achieve that is a wonderfully uplifting tale.
UK
COMEDY\DRAMA\TRUE STORY & BIOGRAPHY
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Based on a real art theft, the great Jim Broadbent stars as an older taxi driver who stole a priceless portrait from London's National Gallery. His ransom to be: Free television for the elderly! From the director of Notting Hill, co-starring Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey) and the almighty Helen Mirren.
In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history.
Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly - he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television.
What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge - Kempton had spun a web of lies. The only truth was that he was a good man, determined to change the world and save his marriage - how and why he used the Duke to achieve that is a wonderfully uplifting tale.
UK
COMEDY\DRAMA\TRUE STORY & BIOGRAPHY