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The Strangest Art Theft in History: How 26 Masterpieces Just Vanished

Best Documentary

15,962 views

Award winning journalist Marc Fennell sets off on a global treasure hunt to piece together the hidden story of the strangest art heist you've never heard of, the theft of 26 masterpieces from a Western Australian monastery. However, what he ends up discovering is worse than anyone could have ever imagined.

00:00 In 1986, thieves ransack a Spanish monastery filled with priceless treasures in outback Australia. Marc Fennell investigates this strange art heist.

50:15 From a bush monastery to a presidential palace, Marc Fennell sets out on an international treasure hunt to chase down the sensational rumor behind a 40-year-old art crime mystery.

01:38:41 Marc Fennell's investigation draws to a close and reveals a dark history of crimes far greater than any art heist.

Director: Corrin Grant

15 Comments

@PizzaBewithYoo 10 months ago

This documentary had me at the edge of my seat. So many unexpected twists and turns. It was like three or four documentaries in one.

@Quills301 10 months ago

This is beyond fascinating. A fun, laugh out loud, crime caper followed by a change of direction in part two that gave me whiplash. The Marcos-Trump connection has blown my mind. 🤯 (I had no idea but wow does that explain a lot.) Excellent use of my Sunday afternoon.

@mohamedawil7068 10 months ago (edited)

One of the best documentary. An advanced course on imperial powers' brutality around the world.

@hawcubites 9 months ago (edited)

I love the reconstructions of the crime, some of them are so hilarious, edited to action perfection. The cast did a good job for sure.

@rts1115 4 months ago

Important story ... thank you for telling it. The paintings secondary ... to the core tragedy of the many young people that went through the monastery

@Dandelionfleur 9 months ago

When I first saw the paintings, I thought of how awful they were. I guess my one university course on Art History and keen interest in art did me proud. When this story took a dark turn it was one that I am familiar with as this brutal treatment of indigenous children also happened in Canada. What hurts even more is that there are those who continue to deny this outrage and try to minimize the lasting, generational damage that was done by saying," There were good things at those schools too!" "God and the devil and me," it's why I am now an anti-theist.

@budbundy364 10 months ago

Great story 😊 thanks for sharing

@jringart-o8k 9 months ago

Great documentary, to the end.

@ccsullivan9164 9 months ago (edited)

Every time they said New Norcia I thought they were saying New Nausea. And based on paintings and their level of accomplishment, New Nausea fits. Worth seeing!

@jayakumar-R 10 months ago

nice picture

@xikimunki 10 months ago

Haha The thieves were so bad at their job they left a complete evidence trail in their own names...all police had to do was follow the breadcrumbs.. incredible...

@kelliv2995 10 months ago

❤

@susannatuttapanna2010 3 months ago

for a british person (sorry!) can you explain the warning to native aboriginal people? I've seen things referring to this before but am not sure what their beliefs are. I'd like to understand if anyone would be kind enough.

@dariudelmar1711 10 months ago

Os detetives conseguiram resgatar as cópias dos quadros porém não investigaram as denúncias das crianças contra os padres beneditinos. E agora ? quem vai resgatar a infância perdida pelos estupros, maus tratos e violência contra DALLAS PHILIPS, KEVIN BARRON e ALF TAYLOR (já falecido) ???? E o genocídio dos aborígenes e mestiços cometidos com a anuência do Estado ???