Smash & Grab: the Story of the Pink Panthers

This documentary takes a compelling look at the most successful jewel gang of modern times. With their roots in Serbia, the Pink Panthers have been linked to hundreds of high-end robberies across the globe, netting over 330 million in the process. Director Havana Marking (Afghan Star) attempts to shed some light on the shady outfit, fashioning her film around the Dubai police's investigation into a 2007 mall heist, the testimonies of gang members and an examination of how the group came together out of the war and lawlessness that followed the break-up of Yugoslavia. Without the benefit of a bling budget, proceedings sometimes look more Crimewatch than Hollywood caper, but the rotoscope-style animated sequences lend it some style, there's a wealth of well-chosen archive footage, and the CCTV recording of the raids is as exhilarating as it is shocking. There's no doubt that the Panthers are dangerous operators with links to less-glamorous criminal activities, but to many of their countrymen they remain heroic outlaws, while even those trying to catch them concede a begrudging respect for their professionalism and sheer chutzpah.