The Christophers

When a talented yet jaded art restorer, Lori Butler (Michaela Coel), is approached by Sallie (Jessica Gunning) and Barnaby Sklar (James Corden), the avaricious adult children of renowned but reclusive artist Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen), she is persuaded to apply for a position as his assistant. Their scheme is simple. With Julian nearing the end of his life, they want Lori to gain access to his long-abandoned unfinished series, The Christophers, and complete the works so they can secure a lucrative inheritance when he dies. However, Julian is far more perceptive than he first appears. As an artistic game of cat-and-mouse unfolds, both mentor and protégé discover that each is hiding more than they initially reveal.

In this slow-burning drama featuring only four principal characters, what begins as a seemingly straightforward fraud caper develops into something far more complex. The 86-year-old portraitist proves surprisingly adept at cyber sleuthing, having spent the last two decades obsessively Googling himself to monitor what critics and admirers have said about his work. Through his investigations, Julian uncovers that Lori is not who she claims to be and discovers a significant event from her past that effectively ended her ambitions of publicly exhibiting her own artwork.

When Julian confronts her, he is unprepared for the honesty of her confession or the depth of insight she demonstrates when critiquing his paintings. Viewing himself as an artistic purist who has resisted conformity throughout his career, he challenges Lori to prove that she is worthy not only of restoring his work but of understanding it. As the relationship develops, Lori becomes increasingly aware of the greed driving Sallie and Barnaby’s ambitions. Recognising their opportunism, she ultimately turns the tables on them and forms an unlikely alliance with Julian in an act of artistic and personal defiance.

Audiences expecting a conventional thriller or mystery may find themselves pleasantly surprised. Steven Soderbergh delivers a tightly focused, almost theatrical drama that explores questions of artistic identity, legacy, mentorship and the ongoing tension between creative integrity and commercial success. The performances are uniformly strong. Ian McKellen brings both vulnerability and arrogance to Julian, while Michaela Coel provides a thoughtful counterbalance as a woman wrestling with disappointment, talent and purpose. Jessica Gunning and James Corden offer effective support as heirs whose concern for their father appears secondary to their concern for his estate.

In keeping with Soderbergh’s fondness for challenging audience expectations, the film concludes with an unexpected twist that exposes a deeper hypocrisy at the heart of the story. Through an act of critical destruction, the narrative reveals that these sparring artists are perhaps not as different as they would like to believe.

REEL DIALOGUE: What legacy will you leave behind?

One of the most compelling questions raised by The Christophers concerns legacy. Julian Sklar spends much of the film wrestling with how his work will be remembered, who will control it after his death and whether anyone truly understands what he has spent his life creating.

Most people may never leave behind a collection of celebrated artworks, but everyone leaves a legacy of some kind. It may be found in our relationships, our character, our influence on others or the values we pass on to future generations.

The challenge is that it can be easy to focus on what we achieve while neglecting who we become.

Jesus addressed this tension when speaking about the pursuit of success and significance:

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” – Matthew 16:26

The Bible encourages us to think beyond wealth, reputation or accomplishment and consider the deeper questions of identity and purpose. While achievements eventually fade and even great works can be forgotten, our relationship with God and the impact we have on others carry eternal significance.

The Christophers asks what remains after an artist is gone. The Bible invites us to ask an even greater question: What kind of legacy are we building with the life we have been given?

Where to look for more details: Matthew 16:26; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 2:18-21; Colossians 3:23-24

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