Home / Arts and Entertainment / Heist Film: Man Who Stole Portugal Stars Grant, West
Heist Film: Man Who Stole Portugal Stars Grant, West
7 May
Summary
- Film centers on Alves dos Reis' massive 1925 Bank of Portugal fraud.
- James Nelson-Joyce and Emily Fairn lead cast; Grant, West also star.
- Production shoots in U.K., Portugal, and South Africa.
Principal photography has commenced on "The Man Who Stole Portugal," a darkly comic period heist film directed by Thomas Napper. The movie, written by Richard Galazka, stars James Nelson-Joyce as Alves dos Reis, the architect of one of history's largest frauds against the Bank of Portugal in 1925. Emily Fairn plays Reis' wife, Maria, with Richard E. Grant and Dominic West also featuring in supporting roles.
The production will span across the U.K., Portugal, and South Africa. Its narrative will journey from the vibrant yet politically unstable Lisbon of the 1920s to colonial Angola and the esteemed printing houses of London. Director Napper highlighted the story's modern relevance, noting Reis' desire to infiltrate rather than destroy the system.
"The Man Who Stole Portugal" is produced by Michael Elliott for EMU Films. Beta Cinema is handling international sales at the Cannes market. The film's plot synopsis describes Reis as a self-made outsider driven by a genius for opportunity, aiming to secure a better life for his family through a series of escalating bluffs and forged credentials.
Other cast members include Joel Fry as Jose, Herbert Nordrum as Karel, Kim Bodnia as Adolf, and Nia Towle as Fie. The film's themes of access, exclusion, and the lengths to which individuals will go to achieve their goals are seen as particularly resonant today.
