The Mastermind

Directed by Kelly Reichardt
United States
2025
110 mins

Synopsis

Kelly Reichardt brings her unique sensibility to this breezy, 1970s-set art heist drama, a Cannes Competition contender starring Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, John Magaro and Gaby Hoffman.

The Framingham Museum of Art, Massachusetts, is the site of a pleasant visit by the Mooney family. While wife Terri (Haim, Licorice Pizza) and the kids look at the works, J.B. (O’Connor, God’s Own Country, SFF 2017; Challengers) cases the joint. Finding some significant lapses in the diligence of the museum security, J.B. starts scheming. Identifying the works to nab is a simple matter, but this seemingly middle-class suburban dad has much greater difficulty in assembling a team to pull off the robbery. As he plots his criminal endeavour, anti-Vietnam War protests grow in intensity all around.

Reichardt is ever an astute and insightful chronicler of pockets of American life, going from the contemporary, as in Showing Up and Night Moves (SFF 2014), back to frontier times, as in Meek’s Cutoff (SFF 2011) and First Cow. Here, she details an era in which the very notion of America felt in flux; where rebellion was in the air, and the suburban dream was on the brink of collapse. The Mastermind is a timely, entertaining and vital addition to her brilliant body of work.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

Tickets

Fri 6 June 2025, 8:15pm
State Theatre
WheelchairAssisted Listening
Sat 7 June 2025, 12:10pm
State Theatre
WheelchairAssisted Listening
  • Program Strand
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    USA
  • Language
    In English
  • Director
    Kelly Reichardt
  • Producer
    Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani
  • Cast
    Josh O'Connor, Alana Haim, John Magaro
  • Screenwriter
    Kelly Reichardt
  • Cinematographer
    Christopher Blauvelt
  • Editor
    Kelly Reichardt
  • Genre
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    World Sales: The Match Factory
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Flag

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Don’t miss a thing!

Whether you’re in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

Don't miss a thing!

Whether you're in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.