Watch This Insane Movie About Gustav Klimt's Family's Fight for His Art, As Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer Mounts A $236 Million Price

Published 11/18/2025, 9:36 PM EST

The film industry offers an endless catalog of biopics, but a select few achieve significance beyond mere celebrity tribute, instead serving as profound historical depictions. These fascinating movies carry immense cultural significance by illuminating critical, often overlooked chapters of world events, often centered on a single family's struggle. This powerful narrative convergence is precisely what drives the must-watch movie centred on the fight for Gustav Klimt's masterpieces.

The fight to reclaim family history and priceless art drives the central action of the film.

What is this story of fight for Gustav Klimt's masterpieces?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The film Woman in Gold is an emotionally gripping drama based on the true story of Maria Altmann, portrayed by Helen Mirren, and her young lawyer, Randol Schoenberg, played by Ryan Reynolds. Their mission is to reclaim Gustav Klimt's iconic Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (features Altmann's aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer) and other works that were stolen by the Nazis from Altmann’s family in Vienna decades earlier. The movie intertwines three major plot threads to build its powerful narrative and emotional weight.

The film deftly divides its focus between the present-day legal battle and poignant flashbacks to the past. A significant portion is dedicated to the relationship between Maria and Randol, showcasing the emotional toll and growth in their personal lives as the high-stakes legal case progresses. The film’s flashback sequences, which emphasize the importance of the artwork and the terror of the Nazi takeover, are crucial, demonstrating that the fight for justice for past wrongs is just as important as the outcome of the trial itself.

Underrated World War 2 Movies That Reveal Some Shocking Details About The Past

The real-life value and turbulent history of Klimt’s work provide a stunning backdrop to the film's events.

Gustav Klimt's $236 million masterpiece sets an art record

Just recently, a different Klimt portrait, the Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, established a new benchmark for the artist, selling for an astounding $236.4 million at auction. This monumental sale, which far surpassed its $150 million estimate, highlights the enduring cultural and financial desirability of these rare, historical paintings, particularly those associated with this era.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The historical significance of paintings like the Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer is inseparable from their artistic merit. This particular work belonged to the prominent Jewish Lederer family and was ruthlessly confiscated by the Nazis in 1938. After surviving the war and an accidental fire, the artwork was finally re-situated in the family. Its recent record-breaking sale at Sotheby’s confirmed its status as one of the most valuable works of modern art ever to be sold at auction. This massive price highlights why the film Woman in Gold showed the fight for the painting, making it a standout among movies based on historical events.

Must-See Netflix Movies: 12 Originals That Won Big at the Oscar

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Have you watched the movie Woman in Gold? What other Klimt’s work can be an inspiration for movie? Let us know in the comments below.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Soma Mitra

559 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

EDITORS' PICK