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The Burnt Orange Heresy
The Burnt Orange Heresy “An obsessive art collector invites a
  renowned and much revered artist to
  create a studio at his palatial villa in Italy
  in the hope that he may achieve a long-
  held ambition to possess one of the
  legendary artist’s paintings; but when he
  invites an ambitious art critic to stay at
  his home, he has an ulterior motive that
  leads to a shocking and tragic conclusion
  in The Burnt Orange Heresy...”

AMBITIOUS BUT UNABLE TO ACHIEVE HIS AIMS, art critic James Figueras (Claes Bang: The Square) resorts to impressing groups of art enthusiasts with flamboyant stories and observations of artists' intentions as he lectures on art history and awaits his longed-for opportunity for fame from his base in Milan, Italy.

At one of his meetings, the beautiful American Berenice Hollis (the vivacious Elizabeth Debicki: Vita and Virginia; Tenet) offers to buy a print of the painting he claims to have created himself to illustrate how easily the art world can be manipulated.

“Highly watchable,
not least because of the
lure of its
four talented stars,
The Burnt Orange Heresy
is slow burning with
a surprising conclusion
that is as shocking as
it is inevitable...”
Berenice becomes James' lover and she accompanies him to the home of wealthy art collector Joseph Cassidy (the eternal rock star Mick Jagger), who has invited James to his palatial villa at Lake Como, Italy, to meet the famous but elusive artist Jerome Debney (the ultra-reliable Donald Sutherland: Television's The Undoing & Trust; The Hunger Games).

Cassidy, of course, has an ulterior motive and is not averse to illegal shenanigans in order to get what he wants. He is desperate to own one of Debney's rare paintings, thus his invitation to the artist to set up his studio on Cassidy's vast estate.

Cassidy will persuade the difficult and private Debney to allow James to interview him, something that has not been possible for over fifty years, on the condition that James secures a painting for him by fair means or foul.

James sees an interview with the legendary artist as his 'holy grail'; an opportunity to achieve recognition for himself and also to resolve his cash flow problem. But if he fails to achieve his aim of somehow appropriating a painting, Cassidy will ensure that the information he has about James' involvement in a Giacometti fraud is leaked and his reputation tarnished forever.

Debney is charmed by Berenice, but he keeps his work safely out of sight with the doors and windows secured. Faced with blackmail and now inextricably tied-in with Cassidy's shady plot, the already-pressurised James stoops to an unprecedented level to accomplish his objective.

The deadly ambitions of the two men lead to a shocking and terrifying tragedy that will have far-reaching consequences.

Teaming attractive, gifted, Claes Bang with the beautiful and talented Elizabeth Debicki, mega-star Donald Sutherland and superstar singer and actor Mick Jagger (playing with a swagger a wealthy, successful, energetic character — looking good, by the way!) is inspirational and works well. That alone is irresistible.

The Burnt Orange Heresy starts off with a would-be famous critic with pretensions of grandeur and an aversion to flies, who attracts the attention of a well-heeled American enough for her to join him on a luxury mystery tour. When the tide turns, it becomes a complicated and unpredictable thriller, driven by one man's fanatical obsession and another's ruthless ambition.

Highly watchable, not least because of the lure of its four talented stars, The Burnt Orange Heresy is slow burning with a surprising conclusion that is as shocking as it is inevitable.

The Burnt Orange Heresy also features: Rosalind Halstead as Evelina Macri; and Alessandro Fabrizi as Rodolfo.

Music is by Craig Armstrong; Director of Photography is David Ungaro; Screenplay by Scott B Smith, Adapted from Charles Willeford's 1971 Novel of the same name; Produced by David Zander, William Horberg and David Lancaster; and Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi.

* Described as an elegant and erotic artwork thriller, The Burnt Orange Heresy is available to download and keep from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on 22 February 2021, then available to rent on digital from 8 March 2021. Certificate: 15 | Running Time: 99 Minutes.

Digital Bonus Features: Commentary with Director Giuseppe Capotondi | Behind The Burnt Orange Heresy (these features may not be available on all Digital platforms and may also be subject to change).

"Highly watchable, not least because of the lure of its four talented stars, The Burnt Orange Heresy is slow burning with a surprising conclusion that is as shocking as it is inevitable" — **** Maggie Woods, MotorBar
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