The movie follows an aspiring artist who becomes a master forger for criminal gangs in 1970s Rome.

A man holds his hand up mimicking a gun

The Italian film is based on a true story (Image: NETFLIX)

Netflix has added a historical drama inspired by true events, and fans of true crime have already fallen in love with the film. The streamer quietly added the Italian post-war film, which tells the story of Toni Chichiarelli (played by Pietro Castellitto).

The talented painter is making ends meet as a street portrait artist in Rome during Italy’s Years of Lead. It was an era of turmoil as a result of political terrorism by neo-fascists and far-left militants.

Time Magazine explained: “Toni’s amoral ambition leads to a life of forgery, producing perfect replicas of paintings for his gallery owner girlfriend Donata (Giulia Michelini) and other lucrative jobs for the Banda della Magliana, a criminal organization stretching its wings in Rome, with the charismatic Balbo (Edoardo Pesce) taking the forger under his wing.”

The large-scale production, which is just one of Netflix’s films based on a true story, has been praised for its period reconstruction, with critics recognising attention to detail in everything from the cars to the clothes and music. Audiences have described it as a mix of political thriller and organised crime drama.

The Netflix film in question is The Big Fake, and fans have taken to IMDb reviews to urge others to watch it.

A man sits in front of a series of drawn portraits
Toni Chichiarelli is a real-life artist (Image: NETFLIX)

Pjames10 hailed it “excellent”, sharing: “I don’t want to give anything away, but the movie took some nice twists and turns. It had some filmic serendipities that, rather than distracting, only helped to reveal how our hero has led a charmed life on the periphery of legitimacy and criminality.

“I was sucked in, and it held my attention the entire time.” 2B-10101010 called it “amazing”, adding: “Intrigue, emotion, story, actors, this movie has it all.

“It starts a bit slow but after the initial introduction, you get to know the characters and story and you want to see more, you want to feel like you are in the movie, it’s a captivating story with a bit of flair.

“Maybe one of the best European movies! Give it a chance, it’s worth seeing.” Luuthaiquangkhai gave the film nine out of 10 stars, praising it for its unique tone.

A woman stands in front of a series of portraits

Fans have hailed the Netflix film a ‘masterpiece’ (Image: NETFLIX)

They said: “I came in expecting a heist/criminal movie, ends up watching a Historical drama that is very much unlike any other things. They have a good story to tell, a firm set of characters with clear individual values and motivations.”

On Rotten Tomatoes, Giulia S shared: “Amazing plot. Great character. Great Atmosphere. I really enjoy it!” Anthousa P said: “Finally a movie for readers of good literature. Where the story matters less than how it is told. Lovely photography, solid acting, good steady pace, interesting musical background.”

Lucas P concluded: “An absolute masterpiece of a movie with a spectacular twist at the end. This is a must-watch.” The real Antonio Chichiarelli was a master of double-playing, and he was not just a painter.

Born in Abruzzo in 1948, he arrived in Rome with a talent “so dangerous it made him a protected asset for the most powerful entities in Italy”, according to The Viewers Perspective.