The new French film 'Auction,' directed by Pascal Bonitzer, dramatizes the real-life rediscovery of a long-lost masterpiece by Jewish Austrian artist Egon Schiele, looted by the Nazis during World War II. The story unfolds in Mulhouse, France, where an unassuming worker, Martin Keller, unknowingly possesses the valuable painting. As the artwork's origins are revealed, a complex web of art world intrigue, moral dilemmas, and historical reckoning emerges.

The film follows Paris-based art specialist Andre Masson and his ex-wife Bertina as they authenticate the painting and uncover its dark past, including its theft by a Nazi official. Martin, uninterested in profit, wants nothing to do with the tainted artwork, while the rightful heirs and art experts complicate the painting's fate. The narrative is further enriched by the character of Aurore, an ambitious intern whose actions play a pivotal role in the unfolding drama.

'Auction' explores the ongoing challenges of returning Nazi-looted art to its rightful owners, highlighting the emotional and ethical complexities that persist even decades after the war. The film invites viewers to reflect on justice, restitution, and the enduring impact of history on the present.