Four small-time criminals led by the seasoned, but realistic Mick, unite in a plot to steal a painting from a museum for a businessman who has emotional ties to it. By accident they steal the wrong painting and find themselves with an original Rembrandt worth millions. They eye a getaway from their everyday worries and debts, but instead their problems are only multiplied.

On 29 January 1999, Rembrandt's "portrait of a lady" (as well as another painting by Bellini) was stolen from the poorly protected Nivaagaard Samlingen in Nivå in Denmark. The depiction in the film of the level of security at that time is fairly accurate, as well as the involvement of bounty hunters as civilian agents in the case. Also, the persons involved were related as depicted, although the role of the father (Mick in the movie) was actually the uncle (of Tom in the movie).