THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF

Beginning on May 22, Scandinavia House will debut the virtual release of the new film The Painter and the Thief from NEON! To kick off the premiere, we’ll be holding an online discussion with director Benjamin Ree and artist Barbora Kysilkova, one of the two main subjects of the documentary. They will discuss the events behind the development of the documentary, the making of the film, and the extraordinary relationships that were built throughout.

After two paintings by Czech naturalist Barbora Kysilkova were stolen from an Oslo art gallery, Norwegian authorities quickly identified and arrested the two culprits. At the criminal hearing of Karl-Bertil Nordland, one of the two thieves, Barbora approached him to see whether she could paint a portrait of him. What followed—over a series of portraits and many years—was an extraordinary story of human connection and friendship, unfolding through shifting perspectives in Benjamin Ree’s intensely intimate film hailed as “the year’s most moving documentary” by The Guardian.

Virtual tickets to the film are available on our Event Page; 50% of proceeds will go to support ASF and Scandinavia House. Viewing The Painter and The Thief is recommended before watching the talk, as there may be spoilers. Click here to purchase a virtual ticket and see the film.

Following the event, the full video will be available to stream on our YouTube channel. Click here at 8 PM on Sunday, May 24, to see their discussion.

WATCH ONLINE