To fight the enemy, she must become one of them.
Israel 1956. Rachel, a Jew, rather unexpectedly meets an old friend at the kibbutz where is she working as a teacher. It brings back memories of her experiences in The Netherlands during the war, memories of betrayal. September 1944. Rachel is in trouble when her hiding place is bombed by allied troops. She gets in contact with a man from the resistance and joins a group of Jews who are to be smuggled across the Biesbosch by boat to the freed South Netherlands. Germans from a patrol boat murder them all however. Only Rachel is able to escape. She is rescued by a resistance group under the leadership of Gerben Kuipers. When Kuipers' son is captured after trying to smuggle weapons, he asks Rachel to seduce SS-hauptsturmführer Ludwig Müntze. Soon she will find out the attack in the Biesbosch wasn't a coincidence.
Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, War
Runtime: 145 minutes
Rating: 8.0/10 (22,921 votes)
Release Date: 1 September 2006
Country: Netherlands, Germany, Belgium
Languages: Dutch, English, German, Hebrew
Company: Fu Works
Sound: Dolby Digital
MPAA: Rated R for some strong violence, graphic nudity, sexuality and language.
Director(s): Paul Verhoeven
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Producer(s):
Graham Begg - executive producer
Jeroen Beker - producer
Jeremy Burdek - co-producer
Jamie Carmichael - executive producer
Regina Frankenberger - assistant producer: Egoli Tossell Film
Sara Giles - executive producer
Andreas Grosch - executive producer
Teun Hilte - producer
Nadia Khamlichi - co-producer
Micha Kovler - line producer: Israel
San Fu Maltha - producer
Jindra Markus - associate producer
Jens Meurer - producer
Henning Molfenter - executive producer
Marc Noyons - co-producer
Justine Paauw - co-producer
Adrian Politowski - co-producer
Laurette Schillings - assistant producer: Motel Films
Andreas Schmid - executive producer
Marcus Schöfer - executive producer
Jos van der Linden - line producer
Jos van der Linden - producer
Frans van Gestel - producer
Marc Wächter - production executive: Germany
Charlie Woebcken - executive producer (as Carl Woebcken)
Writer(s):
Gerard Soeteman - written by
Paul Verhoeven - written by
Cast:
Carice van Houten - Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries
Sebastian Koch - Ludwig Müntze
Thom Hoffman - Hans Akkermans
Halina Reijn - Ronnie
Waldemar Kobus - Günther Franken
Derek de Lint - Gerben Kuipers
Christian Berkel - General Käutner
Dolf de Vries - Notary Wim Smaal
Peter Blok - Van Gein
Michiel Huisman - Rob
Music: Anne Dudley
Graham Begg - executive producer
Jeroen Beker - producer
Jeremy Burdek - co-producer
Jamie Carmichael - executive producer
Regina Frankenberger - assistant producer: Egoli Tossell Film
Sara Giles - executive producer
Andreas Grosch - executive producer
Teun Hilte - producer
Nadia Khamlichi - co-producer
Micha Kovler - line producer: Israel
San Fu Maltha - producer
Jindra Markus - associate producer
Jens Meurer - producer
Henning Molfenter - executive producer
Marc Noyons - co-producer
Justine Paauw - co-producer
Adrian Politowski - co-producer
Laurette Schillings - assistant producer: Motel Films
Andreas Schmid - executive producer
Marcus Schöfer - executive producer
Jos van der Linden - line producer
Jos van der Linden - producer
Frans van Gestel - producer
Marc Wächter - production executive: Germany
Charlie Woebcken - executive producer (as Carl Woebcken)
Writer(s):
Gerard Soeteman - written by
Paul Verhoeven - written by
Cast:
Carice van Houten - Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries
Sebastian Koch - Ludwig Müntze
Thom Hoffman - Hans Akkermans
Halina Reijn - Ronnie
Waldemar Kobus - Günther Franken
Derek de Lint - Gerben Kuipers
Christian Berkel - General Käutner
Dolf de Vries - Notary Wim Smaal
Peter Blok - Van Gein
Michiel Huisman - Rob
Music: Anne Dudley
Posted on: November 22, 2008
January 23rd, 2009
Terrific film dealing with the German occupation of Holland duringWorld War 11.
The film is fabulous due to the exciting plot twists. Even though manyof the good guys turn out to be villains, the film is done so well thatyou just don't mind having to think a little. Imagine, a Jewish woman,whose parents and brother were gunned down by Nazis, is eventuallyaccused of being a traitor. An admirable job is done to depict her asthis, especially since she was the one who helped to wire Germanheadquarters while working for the Dutch underground. When it'sdiscovered by the Nazis, what she is up to, they fabricate storieswhich they know will be heard by the underground.
The cast of German and Dutch actors are wonderful. One question I haveis since when was escaping to Belgium considered a panacea?
January 28th, 2009
STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
A boatload of wealthy Jews are slaughtered without mercy while making asecret journey to safety escaping the Nazis. What's special about thisatrocity is that their valuables are stolen from them by an unknownGerman commander. One of the survivors is Rachel Stein (Carice vanHouten) who witnessed the slaughter of her parents. Now hellbent onfinding the guilty party and bringing them down, she joins forces withfellow resistance member Hoffman (Hans Akkermans) to infiltrate theNazis after gaining the attention of Commander Muntze (Sebastian Koch)where she learns the man behind her parents death is higher up theranks than she thought.
Plenty of older directors still hack away in Hollywood, but PaulVerhoeven seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth after2000's Hollow Man. But out of nowhere he reappeared with this smallerscale, more independent offering set during World War II.
It has an unusual feel for a Verhoeven film. Gone are his trademarkuses of excessive/gratuitous sex/violence/language used to punctuate anintelligent and observant story and instead we have a standard wartimethriller that could have been done by Stephen Spielberg with twice thebudget. It has a more mature feel to most of his other stuff and standsout for it. You get the feeling this may even be more of a personalfilm to him, maybe. It's a gripping and suspenseful thriller withplenty of neat twists and turns to keep you riveted to the end. Plentyof films deal with wartime persecution from the Nazis to the Jews, butthis casts a light on a different idea, that that some may have beenkilled and robbed, with those pretending to be resistance sympathizerssetting them up for a very nasty fall.
Performances wise, in the lead role, van Houten carries the filmstrongly as the bereaved/vengeful Stein and her undercover personalityEllis De Veres. She has a great double act with Hoffman as her malepartner and James Gandolfini lookalike Waldemar Kobus has presence asthe burly officer behind her parent's death. Koch, who I recognizedfrom the brilliant The Lives of Others, delivers an equally solidperformance as Muntze, the commander with a tough exterior that hides asensitive and sympathetic nature that gets him to see the evil of hiscause.
The strangest Verhoeven film you'll ever see, but also a solid andcompelling wartime thriller that perfectly justifies the lengthyrunning time. ****
February 11th, 2009
There have been many films about World War II's European Theater. Amongthe best ones I can recall at this moment are "Saving Private Ryan,""Schindler's List" "The Great Escape," "Patton," and "The Longest Day."But none of these were from the viewpoint of a resistance fighter."Black Book" fills that gap and is as powerful a film as any of these.Unlike the others, this one apparently is a work of fiction.
Because the film is a flashback from a kibbutz in 1956 Israel, we knowthat the protagonist, Rachel Stein aka Ellis de Vries, survives thewar. But what she goes through to survive is so dreadful and yet seemsso believable. The story keeps you at the edge of your seat all of thetime. I don't think there is a dull spot in it. Sometimes it is thesuspense of will the partisans accomplish their mission or will they becaught. When battles break out who will survive? If that is not enoughto keep you alert, there is also a considerable amount of nudity anddebauchery.
The film is mostly believable, but by the end there are so many twistsand betrayals that it loses some credibility. However I didn't realizehow far fetched it got until it was over and I began to think of allthat happened and why the Nazis didn't just destroy the resistance cellwithout waiting for the partisans to attack before springing theirtrap. As done, the Nazis as well as the partisans suffer casualties inthe traps the Nazis set for them.
Nevertheless, the chaos at the end of the war with vengeance seekingDutch mobs and with the victorious allies (Canadian soldiers were theliberators) trusting the wrong people seemed all too realistic.
Carice van Houten is terrific as Rachel Stein/Ellis de Vries.
Although much of the film is in German and Dutch with Englishsubtitles, there are times when it is appropriate for English to bespoken.
February 14th, 2009
This was inspired by true events. In Holland in 1944 a Jewish girl(Carice von Houten) tries to help the Dutch Resistance after seeing herwhole family shot to death by the Nazis. She pretends to be attractedto the head of the Gestapo (Sebastian Koch) and eventually gets himinto bed AND falls in love! Does she betray the man she loves or hercountry?
Paul Verhoeven made this VERY expensive movie in Holland. It seems helearned a lot from making all those films in Hollywood–this plays JUSTlike a Hollywood war movie from the 1950s. It's glossy and it looksgreat–but loaded with violence, nudity and profanity. It moves quicklyand even though it's 145 minutes it's never dull. The acting is prettygood–von Houten has a very tough role but pulls it off. The same forKoch. You despise him but see his humanity underneath. Verhoevenregulars Thom Hoffman and Jeron Krabbe (who were both also in "The 4thMan") pop up giving strong performances in supporting roles. This movieis a little bit too long and it gets very confusing at the end with thedouble and triple crosses piling up–but I still loved it. Worthcatching but avoid it if you're offended by extreme content.
February 15th, 2009
Verhoeven has come back from that Walhalla of movie making. What did hebring with him in his little bag?
Clueless warfare.
I am cursed by the fact to be interested in warfare and astounded againthat even the simplest of warfare concept are trod upon in this movie.Some examples: almost all firefights see the Germans stand up in fullview fire-hosing their MP 40's. Might I point out that the essence ofmodern warfare is to take cover. Nobody in his right mind is going tosurvive combat this way. Another example: during the movie a armoredvehicle is driven into the building. Argg. That is the first andforemost fault one can making in armored warfare. Even tanks might getstuck or shed a track. Weapons are transported with their magazines andin a lose fashion. More number one mistakes. People seldom reload theirguns. During the armored car incident a Thompson is used to kill fiveGermans in a prolonged firefight and not once is the magazine replaced.
Cardboard baddies.
The story boils down to the fact that a resistance fighter hero is infact an egocentric, selfish bastard who has entered into a deal withthe SS to exploit the Jews and has no problem in killing off all hisresistance buddies. And this then is the pivotal story. Oh and theGerman bad guy has no qualms about this resistance fight massacringGerman soldiers. And oh. The resistance people are all happy to laydown and die. Tow being murdered by the bad guy with a knife in broaddaylight. It was one of the baddest scenes.
Unbelievable plot.
No believable plot is made to explain these actions. No anguish on thepart of the killer. No the bad guys are cardboard baddies that need tobe hunted down and killed. And of course only the hapless heroes knowthe truth of it. (and they are not believed by anyone).Break out theguns boys.
Poinless scenes.
The movie is filled with pointless scenes. Examples: the Israel shootat the beginning and the end. The abuse scened after the liberation.The bomber flying at the beginning.
Bad directed scenes.
Did you note how fast the relieve column arrived after the bomberdropped the load on the farm? Within minutes. Even in modern times withcell phones such speed would be amazing. Another one: within a minuteafter the resistance fighter are found out by the police to transportguns an armed force of Germans arrives. Such speed is amazingconsidering they had no helicopters. Why are the resistance to enteredthe SD HQ by the SS when it's a trap. If caused them a lot of deadGermans.
Bad music directing
Music is important to a movie and Verhoeven shows that even his budgethas it's limits. So we are treated with the same melancholic stringmusic most of the time. Only at some key moments the melancholy isdropped for something more fitting.
Let's compare this movie to let's say L'armee des ombres and this ZwartBoek just falls flat on it's face. Karakter and Antoina are far bettermovies with better story lines and believable people. And they had farless budget to work with.
Verhoeven has returned to bring us nothing in particular. Welcome back,mate.
February 20th, 2009
Basically what's gonna blow you away in the Dutch production "BlackBook" is its individual narration presenting one near-perfectperformance by the Dutch actress, Carice Von Houten. Regarding Jews inthe 2nd world war, it's neither The Pianist nor Shindler's List.Instead, it's quite a mixture of the two movies, and fortunately amixture of the good elements from the two.
Ellis was being hidden by a Dutch family in their farmhouse. However,after the house had been bombed, she had to escape to Belgium with thehelp of a Dutch resistant member. They were exposed and all her familywere killed in the slaughter. Being the only one luckily enough toescape the carnage, Ellis had a chance to join the resistance and spyon the Germans.In the process she only discovered the truth of herfamily's tragedy…….
The story is not very complicated, but you will be entirely impressedby the way they tell the story. The whole presentation centers the leadcharacter, Ellis. The audiences will enjoy the exploration of manytopics in a chaos world and time. There is romance between the femalespy and the German officer she spied on; there is also social commentsregarding the morality of people in the war. But they are all presentedin the first-person view so they were all correctly stressed, decoratedand executed. There are countless nude scenes throughout the movie, butthey never stand against the plot or jeopardize the integrity of themovie. On the contrast, all the nudity, torture and these elements aresmart compliments to the story because they were all stitched by one ofmy favorite female lead in all movies, Ellis.
Ellis was quick, smart and always had the potential to escape the worstsituations. She's also passionate and sympathetic. But the main featureof her is her uniquely strong personality. Heroine is not precise herebecause she didn't really do something heroic. However, she was alwaysshining in every single scene. The audiences will find it mostly easyto root for her because she's so likable. Carice Von Houten completelysink into her character, or she herself is really such a bold andenthusiastic person as Ellis. In my opinion she deserved an Oscar.
Generally, you will remember this movie.
9/10