February, 2024 Doc of the Month: The Thief Collector (2022)

directed by Allison Otto, 1h 36m

For this inaugural installation of the WALT, I have made a selection that will make you question everything you think you know about your friends, family members, and neighbors. For this month, I encourage you to watch a story of theft, intrigue, and human behavior.

THE THIEF COLLECTOR (2022)

dir. Allison Otto

A captivating crime documentary about the heist of one of the most valuable paintings of the 20th century, Willem de Kooning's "Woman-Ochre," which was brazenly cut from its frame in 1985 while hanging at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. Thirty-two years later, the painting was found hanging in the New Mexico home of an eccentric married couple with a keen eye for great works but a very unconventional method of collecting them.

The Thief Collector also features humorous reenactments featuring actors such as Glenn Howerton (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Sarah Minnich (How to Blow Up a Pipeline), and Brandon Z Ruiz (Billie the Kid).

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How to watch

The Thief Collector is available for rent/purchase on most platforms. It is currently available on many free streaming platforms.

• Kanopy - *recommended* HD, free with library card

• Roku - HD, free with ads

• Plex - HD, free with ads

• Freevee - HD, free with ads ⊛

• Tubi - SD, no ads

Things to think about while watching the film

• Is there anyone in your life whose life seems like it could be the plot of a movie or novel?

• If you could steal any painting, what would you take?

• What do you think about the story in Jerry’s book about the undocumented worker?

How to engage

Either leave a comment here with your thoughts on the film or engage with the supplemental prompts, which you will receive shortly if you haven’t already. Be sure to read what other people are saying and continue the conversation!

Supplemental material

• Wikipedia: List of stolen paintings

• Wikipedoa: Woman-Ochre

• The Cup and the Lip on Amazon ⊛

• The Cup and the Lip on Bookstore.org

• NEW IN THE NEWS: ‘Priceless’ artwork stolen by mobsters 50 years ago finally returned to N.J. owner

Paid Subscriber Perks

Paid subscribers will receive access to a video interview between myself and director, Allison Otto! Allison has also graciously offered to give our paid subscribers access to a documentary guide she made of the best character driven documentaries of all time. This list was complied by industry professionals (producers, directors, festival directors, cinematographers, distributors, and more) and features the name of the person who recommended the film, their position in the industry, and then their "fave picks". There’s even checkboxes next to each film so viewers can tick off the films they've watched. Upgrade to a paid subscription and unlock these bonuses!

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to fill out the survey to better inform future documentary selections.

The ⊛ indicator symbol means that the link may lead to an affiliate site with which The WALT is associated and may receive incentives.