La Mariée (The Bride)

According to director Roger Michell in an article in Entertainment Weekly, the painting was chosen because screenwriter Richard Curtis was a fan of Chagall’s work, and because La Mariée “depicts a yearning for something that’s lost.” Producers had a reproduction made for use in the film, but had to first get permission from the painting’s owners, as well as clearance from the British Design and Artists Copyright Society. Finally, according to producer Duncan Kenworthy, “…we had to agree to destroy it. They were concerned that if our fake was too good, it might float around the market and create problems.” The article also notes that “…some experts say the real canvas could be worth between $500,000 and $1 million.”