The Thief Collector

The Thief Collector is a 2022 American documentary film directed by Allison Otto. It tells the story of Woman-Ochre, a valuable Willem de Kooning oil painting, and the New Mexico married couple that allegedly stole it in 1985.

The film has received positive reviews, with praise for its story, tone, and humor.

Synopsis
In 1985, Willem de Kooning’s oil painting Woman-Ochre vanished from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in Tucson. The $160 million work of art remained missing until 2017, when it was found hanging in the former home of Jerry and Rita Alter, a deceased New Mexico married couple. The film features interviews with the Alters' family members and those involved in the painting's disappearance and recovery. The film also utilizes actors to stage reenactments of the theft, as well as adaptations of short stories from a book written by Jerry Alter.

Release
The film premiered at the South by Southwest film festival on March 13, 2022.

Critical reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 92% score based on 38 reviews. The site's consensus states: "An effortlessly engaging true-crime documentary, The Thief Collector reaffirms that reality can be stranger than fiction -- and sometimes just as entertaining." Metacritic reports an 70 out of 100 ratings based on four critics.