The Burnt Orange Heresy

An ambitious art dealer named James Figueras enlists the help of a young curator, Berenice Hollis, to steal a rare canvas from the reclusive painter Jerome Debney. The job promises a life changing payday and a chance to showcase Figueras's nerve in the cutthroat world of high art. Debney's enigmatic persona and the painter's illusive reputation heighten the danger, complicating motives and relationships. As the plan unfolds, greed inexorably tightens its grip on Figueras, feeding insecurities and blurring boundaries between art, ownership, and identity. What begins as a calculated heist spirals into a cat and mouse game where trust evaporates and consequences multiply. The tension escalates as the stakes rise and the art world looms like an audience with judgment.

Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi, The Burnt Orange Heresy adapts Charles Willeford's novel The Burnt Orange Heresy with screenplay craft by Scott B. Smith. The 2020 thriller features Claes Bang, Elizabeth Debicki, Mick Jagger, Donald Sutherland and Rosalind Halstead on screen.

Box office details for this limited release were modest and regionally varied, with grosses difficult to track in several markets. The film did not emerge as a major international hit, nor did it dominate awards or headlines during its run.

The Burnt Orange Heresy has spawned little lasting cultural ripple beyond niche art thriller circles. It is mostly noted for its glossy look and strong performances from Bang, Debicki, Jagger and Sutherland, yet it hasn't yielded iconic quotes or scenes that linger in pop culture. Its look nods to classics.

Critics offered mixed takes on the film, noting its stylish mood and taut performances while criticizing its pacing and moral ambiguities. The central themes revolve around greed and the corrosive pull of power within the art market, and the cost of chasing prestige. Some viewers may revisit scenes for clues.