After tracking down Karl-Bertil Nordland–the man who stole two beloved oil paintings from her exhibition in an Oslo art gallery–Barbora asks if she can paint his portrait. Troubled, yet determined to make amends, Karl-Bertil agrees and becomes Barbora’s muse, sparking a platonic love no one expected.

Directed by Benjamin Ree, The Painter and the Thief is a humble documentary that tells a story of not just solving a mystery, but the evolution of compassion and humankind. There is no reliance on a show-stopping score or narration; Ree and his camera act as a fly on the wall, intimately capturing these moments in a charming, home video-like fashion. By shifting perspectives throughout the film, the painter–Kysilkova–and the thief–Nordland–each have an equal opportunity to share their story from their point of view.

Executive produced by famed documentarian Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor, 20 Feet From Stardom) and released by NEON (Parasite, Portrait of a Lady on Fire), The Painter and the Thief already sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this review.

Available everywhere this Friday, May 22nd.