Entertainment & Arts - Movies

Over the years, there have been many stories about Vincenzo Peruggia and his 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa. All his daughter 84-year-old daughter Celestina wanted to know was the truth.

Writer/Director Joe Medeiros who has been fascinated by the theft of the Mona Lisa for more than 30 years travels to Paris, Florence, London, Milan and Dumenza, Italy to learn what really happened when Peruggia, an immigrant workman, took the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. As the story goes Peruggia kept her for 27-1/2 months in his apartment in Paris, then returned her to Florence claiming to be a patriot avenging Italy for Napoleon's theft of Italian art treasures.

Medeiros and his dedicated team examine never-before-published documents and photographs, as well as talk to friends and relatives of the people involved in the story, and visit the actual locations -- including having Peruggia's grandson trace his grandfather's route in and out of the Louvre and his granddaughter retrace his steps through the streets of Florence.

The filmmakers also interview the world's leading experts on the Mona Lisa, art history, art forgery and art theft. And they round out the story by also speaking with psychologists, sociologists, journalists, medical and legal experts to help paint the first-ever accurate portrait of Peruggia and his actions.

This groundbreaking documentary separates fact from fiction in the biggest art theft ever committed and builds to a dramatic conclusion when Celestina reads in her father's own words why he took the most famous painting in the world.

Produced by Midair Rose Productions
Executive Producer, Justine Medeiros
Director, Joe Medeiros

Midair Rose Productions

Westlake Village, CA