Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu about daring museum robber; language, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Vjeran Tomic: The Spider-Man of Paris
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Vjeran Tomic was an audacious and athletic burglar who had been scaling elegant Parisian apartment buildings and traipsing across rooftops to break into high-floor apartments. He took jewelry, art, and other valuables and made a nice living. Occasionally he was caught and sent to jail. VJERAN TOMIC: THE SPIDER-MAN OF PARIS puts interviews with him front and center as he describes his patient and meticulous methods and climbing skills perfected in the army. He walks the audience step-by-step through his 2010 masterpiece, a $120 million heist at Paris' Museum of Modern Art. The five paintings he stole, among them a Picasso and a Modigliani, have never been recovered. Through reenactments -- thrilling footage of someone daringly jumping across roofs and stealing into lush apartments -- Tomic's talent is showcased. The police who tied him to the museum job speak highly of him. Tomic, sentenced to eight years for the theft, was recently released and is a mesmerizing if somewhat smug and self-aggrandizing storyteller.
Is It Any Good?
Vjeran Tomic: The Spider-Man of Paris is a fascinating case study of a self-justifying criminal. Like Robin Hood, he has some admirable principles. When arrested, he's polite and cooperative. He never killed or hurt anyone in his years of illegal exploits. Even his victims speak admiringly of his skill. But, with his difficult and possibly abusive childhood as pop psychology explanation, it's clear that there is something fundamentally wrong with him, beyond his inability to connect with others. He has no regrets and his only friend is a perceptive man who lives on Paris streets.
The film is a study in class and how it can shape a man with talent into a criminal. Tomic harbors understandable prejudices: "Rich people are pretentious… grubby and evil and dishonest," says the man who steals for a living. The film does reveal how shockingly easy it is in France to authorize surveillance and a wiretap, without any evidence or probable cause.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it means that the police and even some of his victims "respected" Tomic.
Tomic is a meticulous and patient planner, yet he recklessly squandered his money and made drunken statements that got him into trouble. How do these facts help draw a picture of his character?
Do you think his need for recognition of his great achievements was part of his downfall? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 20, 2023
- Director : Jamie Roberts
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 26, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate