The Jewel Thief

Gerald Blanchard grew up in Canada and had been stealing since childhood. His career starts with small shop robberies, runs on to bank vaults and ends up at a museum in Austria. What he takes from there is the diamond star of the Empress Sisi. He plans the theft over months and leaves a copy of the star in its place. Blanchard speaks for himself in the documentary and describes what he did without any sign of regret. Against him are the two Canadian detectives who chased him for years, telling it from their side. His mother speaks as well. Landon Van Soest's film is aware of the danger of turning a criminal into a hero and approaches that line at times: Blanchard is a good storyteller and the film gives his account a lot of room. Who lost what is discussed less.