Directed by Havana Marking, Smash & Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers (2013) gives a unique and up close look at the organized ring of diamond thieves that have ravaged Europe and stolen more than $500,000,000 worth of merchandise since 1999. Emerging out of the former Yugoslavia, this network of ethnic Serbs (known as the Pink Panthers) is responsible for some of the more audacious robberies in modern history… with locales ranging from Switzerland to Dubai and as far away as Japan. The narrative focuses on the different ways in which the thieves are perceived, with some views bordering on "Robin Hood" admiration. The film uses real CCTV footage of Pink Panther heists to illustrate the extreme nature, precision and swiftness of the crimes. The video footage is jaw dropping at times. They enter jewelry stores either by ruse or by more severe force including smashing automobiles through the front door… sometimes they're more stealthy and enter at night by cutting a hole in the wall of an adjoining business. Also included are interviews with various law enforcement personnel, Interpol, crime experts and faux vignettes derived from material given by real-life members of the criminal organization.
Directed by Choi Dong-hoon, The Thieves (2012) is the summation of all that is good in a heist film. Although not well known in the United States, The Thieves scored well in Asian markets and is now one of the highest grossing South Korean films ever made. The complicated story starts with an art heist con, and then follows a group of Korean thieves as they team up with a Chinese crew to steal a valuable diamond from a highly guarded casino. The well-written script and close attention to detail, combined with plot twists and fast paced action provide a solid mixture all around. Art theft, safe cracking, high risk free-falls, daring chases, double-crossing and shootouts abound. The whole cast is superb, including Kim Yoon-seok, Lee Jung-jae, Kim Hye-soo and Jeon Ji-hyun (Gianna Jun).
