He had accumulated these paintings by having prior knowledge of them before their sale at auction. He used a proxy named Billy Whistler, (played by Donald Sutherland) to bid on paintings that he wanted for his private collection.. Oh, the proxy was being well paid and was a trusted friend. Billy had been a painter that Virgil, as a critic, had deemed less than good, which had limited Billy's career as an artist but had launched his career as a proxy.
The auctioneer, revered as an art critic, antique appraiser and disposer of the estates of the elite who have fallen on hard times, liked to sit in his vault and reflect upon his 'ladies'. He would have some champagne and meditate on his collection. In fact, he had never known a woman in the intimate or even personal sense. He never dated. He never married, he did not chase wild women. He had a phobia of some exotic sort. That's what made him perfect for the mysterious woman at a decaying villa named Claire.(Played wonderfully by Silvia Hoeks.)
Claire would call him and beg that he would administer the disposal of her estate. She was a writer, a recluse and desperate for money. She had a huge home, filled with antiques, art and collectables. More notably to Virgil, she refused to be seen by anyone, but could only converse over the phone, by notes or by speaking to him through a locked door. She had a caretaker bring her groceries and leave them.
Her possessions are fabulously valuable, and Virgil is very intrigued by them. However, he becomes a bit obsessed with the woman herself. By a ruse, he manages to see her. He pretends to leave the house but hides and watches the girl when she emerges from her hidden sanctuary. He sees that she is young, attractive and vulnerable in a way that he finds irresistible. In short, he begins to fall in love with the reclusive woman who seems to have more quirks than even he does.
Virgil sees the tragedy of a life wasted behind closed doors, behind the crumbling walls of an estate. He wants to take her places and show her fine dining and the artsy things of his world. To do so, he might have to appear in public without gloves or eat at a restaurant without facing the wall.
Claire is so fragile that Virgil must start emerging from his own shell in order to save her. The whole thing would make a shrink's mind go into overdrive. For myself, I felt uncomfortable at some similarities to my own hermit tendencies.
I loved this movie. It is at once a mystery, a romance and a cautionary tale for old men. I loved the fact that it is set in the world of the arts. The acting is superb and the writing is terrific. I recommend it unreservedly. Call it five stars out of five, if you can watch anything other than violent action shows.
I'm CE Wills, here at the author's green retreat.
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