Helen Mirren credited as playing...
Maria Altmann
- Randol Schoenberg: It's hard to believe Hitler once applied to be an art student here.
- Maria Altmann: I wish they'd have accepted him.
- Maria Altmann: They'll never admit to what they did, because if they admit to one thing, they'll have to admit to it all.
- Maria Altmann: My sister, Louise-I truly loved her, but truth is, we were always competitive. If life is a race, you beat me to the finish. But if life is a boxing match, I'm the last one standing.
- Maria Altmann: I have to do what I can to keep these memories alive, because people forget-especially the young.
- Maria Altmann: I have decided to allow the paintings to remain on display... if you agree to admit they were obtained illegally.
- Randol Schoenberg: I could've searched for the file on my own.
- Maria Altmann: I wasn't going to miss all the fun. This is like a James Bond film, and you're Sean Connery!
- Maria Altmann: They're hoping to drag it out until I die? Well, I will do them the favor of hanging around.
- Maria Altmann: When people see the famous portrait, they see a masterpiece by one of Austria's finest artist. But, I see a picture of my Aunt. A woman who talked to me about life, while I brushed her hair in her bedroom.
- Maria Altmann: We did everything we could and that's what matters. The past is the past and now we must let it go.
- Maria Altmann: [to Hubertus as Randy is about to speak before the Austrian arbitration committee] The first time I came for myself. This time I came for him.
- Dreimann: Mrs. Altmann, may I have a word?
- Maria Altmann: Yes, of course.
- Dreimann: I'm defeated... but I will ask you, beg you, entreat you... not to let these paintings leave their motherland. Let us come to an arrangement. I'm sure we can make a generous offer.
- Maria Altmann: I, too, am sad that they will not stay in Adele's country. But all along, I have tried to negotiate, I have tried to keep the dialogue open, and all along, you have thwarted me and closed the doors in my face. So, now... I am tired... and my aunt will cross the Atlantic to make her home in America, as I once had to.
- Randol Schoenberg: You could buy a new bungalow... buy anything you want!
- Maria Altmann: I'd like a new dishwasher.
- Maria Altmann: Restitution-the return of something to its original state... At the very least, we should be reunited with what is rightfully ours.
- Woman in Crowd: I would like to return to my original state!
- Maria Altmann: A week ago you weren't even interested and now you're all over me like a rash. What happened?
- Randol Schoenberg: Well, against my better judgment, I think I like you.
- Maria Altmann: My sister finally moves in with me. The problem is, she finally decides to do it when she's dead.
- Maria Altmann: I don't know if I have the strength to deal with these people, and I've only been here a day.
- Maria Altmann: My dear, even if we go no further, we made it all the way to the Supreme Court.
- [in a whisper]
- Maria Altmann: And that's quite a long way for an Austrian girl like me.