Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art is a fascinating documentary that explores the unbelievable story of one of the biggest art scams in American history. Released in 2020, this film is directed by Barry Avrich and features interviews with art experts, collectors, and the individuals involved in the scandal. The film follows the story of Ann Freedman, a renowned art dealer who worked at the prestigious Knoedler Gallery in New York City. The gallery had a reputation for dealing with some of the most valuable and sought-after pieces of art in the world. So, when Freedman made a discovery of 40 previously unknown paintings by some of the most prominent artists of the 20th century, it was a sensation within the art world.
Among the incredible finds were works by Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Willem de Kooning. They came in conjunction with fascinating stories about how the paintings had been hiding in plain sight within private collections for over 50 years.
However, as time went on, doubts began to arise about the authenticity of the artworks. Freedman and Knoedler Gallery were then accused of fraudulently selling fake paintings for millions of dollars by the disgruntled buyers.
The documentary follows Miller's investigation, uncovering details of how the sophisticated forgery was orchestrated. The case will be a lesson in the difference between true experts and bluffers, and great skill is needed to differentiate them.
This documentary takes the viewer through the twists and turns of this incredible story, including expert insights into the art world, testimonials from buyers and sellers affected by the scam, and interviews with all parties involved.
One of the most impressive aspects of the film is its ability to create a sense of tension and intrigue, as it explores the scandal from multiple perspectives while meticulously detailing the evidence that led to the unmasking of the fraudsters. The cinematography harks back to the time of the paintings, with wide, airy shots focussing on the stunning detail of the works themselves. Interviewees are captured so closely that their facial expressions communicate the sense of disbelief, satisfaction, and anger that is present throughout the film.
Another fantastic feature of the movie is the way the filmmakers highlight the impact of the scam on the art world. Notably, it affected the buyers, art dealers and sellers, and even the artists themselves. The ripple effects of the scam were felt across the industry and raise questions about what authenticity even means in the art world.
Overall, Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art is a must-see documentary for anyone interested in the art industry, for fans of true crime and for those who relish in seeing justice done. The film is well-thought-out, thoroughly researched, and offers a rare opportunity to explore the seedy underbelly of the art world in a way that has hitherto been unseen. Made You Look is a profound testament to the human confidence, greed and the importance of verifying the authenticity of works in the absence of trustworthy materials.
Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.
