Reportedly every counterfeiter of a work of art makes their own creation. Copying established artists they append their own heart, engagement, abilities and work. When does a painter, sculptor, writer become an artist? They need talent... but is it always the way? Certainly they have to be discovered, recognized and advertised, and a well-established art critic has to say, "It is good". When an artist has a chance to come into being, he either takes a chance or not, but that's another story.

Such a cognoscente of art, a figure equally eccentric and opinion-forming, is Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey Rush) the main character of the intriguing movie "Deception" by Giuseppe Tornatore. He leads an organized life, trades at an auction house, and is surrounded by respect, richness, and art. He allows himself small vagaries, prejudices or habits of a confirmed bachelor. He continually wears gloves, doesn't have a mobile phone, doesn't like strangers, and confides only in his friend and partner, Bill Whistler (Donald Sutherland). Is anything forbidden to a nabob?

Into his stable life enters a mysterious young girl, Claire Ibbetson (Sylvia Hoeks). After the death of her parents she inherits their estate, which she decides to have valued, thinking about selling it. To begin with she puts Virgil's patience to the test by not coming to meetings and coming up with various unlikely excuses. Her behavior is frustrating and intriguing and Virgil, despite early unwillingness, accepts the job. He doesn't suspect how much his acquaintance with this young lady will change his life.

Among the family memorabilia, antiques and artworks the antiquary finds a strange rusty piece of a mechanism. His expert eye and intuition doesn't allow him to pass it up. He shows it to one of his friends, a genius restorer called Robert (Jim Sturgess). From now on curious events interchange with the rebuilding of the mechanism. As the mechanism starts to take shape, an intrigue develops among the main characters.

It becomes clear where this is leading. But is it really what it seems? Is it possible to produce love and friendship like fake copies of works of art? Who is a true friend, who is an enemy and who is the women in the café?

"Deception" is a movie about nascent fascination and compassionate feeling. It is full of emotions stronger than fear. An additional asset of the movie is the captivating music by Ennio Morricone and eye-catching scenes in many European cities: Prague, Milan, Rome, Vienna and Trieste.