The Rape of Europa

The Rape of Europa examines art plundered by the Nazis during WWII. The documentation overwhelms the viewer and the sheer amount of paintings and fine art targeted results in items that are still missing to this day. The documentary brings up some points not specifically made in the movie, like how does the looting of antiquities recently in Baghdad compare? Another film that doesn't get mentioned but will be of interest to anyone into the subject is John Frankenheimer's WWII art heist actioner The Train with Burt Lancaster and Paul Scofield.

The fact that images of fine art are accompanied by meticulous written data works for the benefit of those trying to steal it as well as those trying to preserve. Playing exclusively at the downtown Angelika, The Rape of Europa utilizes great archival footage and explains how the art was protected and demonstrates how the captors crated and shipped same.

The film's co-producer Robert Edsel will be in Houston and host a Q&A immediately following the 4:50pm and 7:30pm screenings on Saturday, January 12.