WOMAN IN GOLD

Maria Altman sought to regain a world famous painting of her aunt

plundered by the Nazis during World War II. She did so not just to
regain what was rightfully hers, but also to obtain some measure
of justice for the death, destruction, and massive art theft
perpetrated by the Nazis.

In a series of flashbacks throughout the film, Maria Altmann recalls the arrival
of Nazi forces in Vienna, Austria, and the subsequent suppression of
theJewish community and the looting and pillaging conducted by the Nazis
against Jewish families. Seeking to escape before the country is completely
shut off, Maria Altmann and members of her family attempt to flee to the United
States. While Altmann is successful in her escape, she is forced to abandon her
parents in Vienna.
In the present, living in Los Angeles, a now elderly Altmann attends the funeral
for her sister. She discovers letters in her sister's possession dating to the late
1940s, which reveal an attempt to recover artwork owned by the Altmann family
that was left behind during the family's flight for freedom and subsequently
stolen by the Nazis. Of particular note is a painting of Altmann's aunt, now
known in Austria as the "Woman in Gold".
Altmann enlists the help of Randol Schoenberg, a lawyer with little
experience, to make a claim to the art restitution board in Austria.
Reluctantly returning to her homeland, Altmann discovers that the
country's minister and art director are unwilling to part with the painting,
which they feel has become part of the national identity. Altmann is told that
the painting was in fact legitimately willed to the gallery by her aunt. Upon
further investigation by her lawyer and Austrian journalist Hubertus Czernin, this
claim proves to be incorrect, as the alleged will is invalid due to the fact that her
aunt did not own the painting in question, the artist's fee having been paid by

her uncle. Schoenberg files a challenge with the art restitution board, but it is
denied and Altmann does not have the money needed to challenge the ruling.
Defeated, she and Schoenberg return to the United States.
Months thereafter, happening upon an art book with "Woman in Gold" on the
cover, Schoenberg has an epiphany. Using a loop hole and precedents in
which an art restitution law was retroactively applied, Schoenberg files a claim
in US court against the Austrian government contesting their claim to the
painting. An appeal goes to the Supreme Court of the United States, where
in the matter ofRepublic of Austria v. Altmann, the court rules in Altmann's
favor, which results in the Austrian government attempting to persuade Altmann
to retain the painting for the gallery, which she refuses. After a falling out over
the issue of returning to Austria for a second time to argue the case, Altmann
agrees for Schoenberg to go and argue the case in front of an arbitration panel
of three arbiters in Vienna.