Fascinated by her mystery, Virgil becomes obsessed. He begins to find ancient mechanical parts scattered throughout her villa, which his friend (Jim Sturgess) identifies as pieces of a legendary 18th-century automaton. As Virgil slowly draws Claire out of her shell, he falls deeply in love, eventually revealing to her his secret room filled with priceless original portraits of women—the only "women" he has ever truly known. Thematic Analysis

The lush, atmospheric score was composed by the legendary Ennio Morricone .

(Italian: La migliore offerta ) is a 2013 Italian psychological thriller written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore . The film stars Geoffrey Rush as Virgil Oldman, a reclusive and meticulous art auctioneer whose life is upended by a mysterious, agoraphobic heiress. Plot Summary

International reviews were mixed. While critics praised Geoffrey Rush’s performance and the "visually splendid" cinematography, some found the plot twists predictable and the dialogue overly stilted. On Rotten Tomatoes , it holds an approval rating of 56%.

It was a major success in Italy, winning six David di Donatello Awards , including Best Film and Best Director.

Critics have compared the film to Hitchcock’s Vertigo , noting its depiction of a man’s obsessive attempt to reconstruct and "save" an idealized woman. Production and Reception

The film features veteran actor Donald Sutherland as Billy Whistler, Virgil's long-time accomplice in art-market manipulation.

Virgil’s belief that "there is always something authentic concealed in every forgery" serves as the central irony of the story.