First, let me express my condolences on the Oscars. I know you put your heart and soul into all your projects, and “The Descendants” and “The Ides of March” certainly reflected your talent and hard work.
That said, I want to tell you how excited I am about your forthcoming , the art historians and curators whose work in the wake of Nazi art looting tried to bring a just resolution to that segment of Hitler’s war crimes. Despite their efforts and the documentation furnished through German efficiency, this endeavor didn’t totally fix the problems or end the claims and injustice. It’s remarkable to me that today, nearly 67 years after the end of World War II, heirs and other descendants of victims are still fighting battles to reclaim stolen property. There are a few actual survivors who remember the actual occurrences, but fewer and fewer. There’s even a regular online newsletter called looted art.com
So, your movie: I know that your material comes from Robert Edsel, a businessman who’s taken it upon himself to research the Monuments Men and champion their history. But I want you to know that there are other sources, including my novel, After the Auction, that touch on this history. In fact, two of my characters, a Scottish woman named Helen Wolf and my protagonist’s lover, Simon Rieger, served with the Monuments Men.
Now I’m not saying that my novel would provide the substance for your specific focus. But it’s a great story of a woman who pursues looted family treasure on her, 50+ years after the fact. Along the way she encounters threats, a murder, a deal with a devil and betrayal by someone she trusts. And, yes, new romance!
However, there’s a movie in my book, too. Maybe you’ll mention it to your friend, Meryl? Let’s face it: she can do anything, and she’d be a great Lily. Lily’s smart, funny, accomplished, nurturing. And did I say she’s all of that AND 60 years old? Between baking cookies or cooking dinner, she covers dynamite stories as a journalist and begins a really HOT romance with Simon. So, kind of a cross between Julia Child and Miranda Priestly. No signs of dementia yet, and, though Lily’s a widow, she doesn’t hallucinate about her dead husband.
At the very least, thanks for picking this subject. It’s a renewed marketing opportunity for my book.
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