The main characters represent actual persons: Han van Meegeren, Joseph Piller, Johanna Oerlemans, Dirk Hannema. However the movie frequently diverges from historical facts:
- The most important gap is the trial: actually, Van Meegeren painted the Vermeer-style frame ("Jesus among the Doctors") for the trial, in the presence of court-appointed witnesses. He thus demonstrated the other alleged Vermeers were also fake and was charged with forgery and fraud, a much lesser offense than collaboration with the enemy. He was hence never sentenced to death, just to one year imprisonment.
- Joseph Piller arrested van Meegeren but did not act as his attorney.
- Van Meegeren was jailed in May 1945, released in Jan. or Feb. 1946 (after finishing the above-mentioned painting) and stood trial in Oct. and Nov. 1947. He was not detained in the attic of Goudstikker art gallery but mainly in the nearby HQ of Military Command.
- He did not sign his book for Hitler. However, according to the book the movie is partly based on, van Meegeren was a fascist sympathizer and did send an admiring note to Hitler in 1942.
- There are many exaggerations about characters and situations, notably Piller's and Dekker's methods as well as the feud between the Military and the Ministry of Justice.
