The opening scene of Monuments Men shows a painting of the Lamb of God stolen, with millions of other European artworks, by the occupying Germans during WWII. A special U.S. military unit, commissioned by FDR, and led by George Clooney, loosely based on historical reality, strives to retrieve and return the over 5 million looted treasures. One particular masterpiece is a sculpture of Madonna and child, purloined from the cathedral of Bruges. Others are the altar pictorials from Ghent’s cathedral. Although risking their lives for mostly religious art, and preserving the cultural heritage of Christian Civilization, the Monuments Men never mention religion. They perform their duty, as soldiers and lovers of art, in an entertaining, unpretentious almost wholesome film that recalls old style WWII movies of 40 and 50 years ago like Guns of Navarone and A Bridge Too Far. Gregory Peck and David Niven would be at home in Monuments Men.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 13:24:27 +0000
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