Zwartboek (2006)
Genre: Thriller / War
Duration: 145 minuten
Alternative title: Black Book
Country:
Netherlands / Germany / United Kingdom / Belgium / France / United States
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Stars: Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch and Thom Hoffman
IMDb score:
7,7 (84.226)
Releasedate: 14 September 2006
Zwartboek plot
"To fight the enemy, she must become one of them."
In the last year of the Second World War, the farm where Jewish revuester Rachel Stein is hiding is suddenly bombed. She is received by a local sailor, but is visited the same evening by Van Gein, who warns them that the Germans are already on the trail of this new address, and offers them a safe passage through the Biesbosch to the (liberated) south of the Netherlands. . However, fleeing the occupied part of the Netherlands is not as easy as she thought.
Actors and actresses
Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries
Ludwig Müntze
Hans Akkermans
Ronnie
Günther Franken
Joop
Prison Guard with Baret
Gerben Kuipers
General Käutner
Notary Wim Smaal
Reviews & comments
Madecineman (moderator films)
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- 7484 messages
- 1719 votes
Black Book, an exciting, skillfully made film from our own soil, but I don't immediately see a modern masterpiece in it. Although "modern" isn't the most fitting term for this film either, Paul Verhoeven's latest film looks and feels very classic (although the word 'old-fashioned' does come to mind here and there).
The story being told is in itself interesting and exciting enough to justify a full-length film. It is therefore a great pity that Zwartboek features too many extremely banal and even a number of downright bad scenes that manage to drag the film down considerably. The supposedly crucial scene in which De Gein is shot, for example, was truly ridiculously laughable, perhaps a case of ill-timed humor??? I actually don't think so... Also, fat, dick-naked Germans named Gunther remind me more of Hans Teeuwen's cabaret than an exciting war thriller. The scene with a sadistic Theo Maassen was also extremely bad, by the way... I don't understand why they opted for such poorly written, banal scenes; at the very least, it means I can't take the film seriously throughout. It's a shame, because ultimately it is a very decent "whodun-it" that is certainly entertaining and would have been better off with a bit more attention to subtle drama and building suspense. I am almost certain that an actress like Carice van Houten is capable of this, but she clearly doesn't get the chance.
Unfortunately, I can't give it more than 3 stars right now—3 well-deserved stars, mind you... but still... it could have been better.
Translated from Dutch · View original
eddyeddy
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- 207 messages
- 207 votes
Dutch film was never among my favorite genres that I looked forward to with pleasure.
Since Black Book I Know Better, a war thriller of a high standard that sweeps you into a maelstrom of events, portrayed in a realistic manner.
The acting performances of the cast, whom you would almost forget in the film due to their "natural style" of acting, were downright good; that of Carice van Hout, unknown to me at the time, was sublime.
Translated from Dutch · View original
rep_robert
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- 16370 messages
- 4168 votes
A solidly made Dutch war film, but once again this proves to me that I don't care much for Dutch films.
This is mainly due to the acting. I must say that, across the board, I didn't find it dramatic this time, but when dramatic scenes occur in *Zwartboek*, it does start to become laughable. Van Houten, in particular, fails miserably in that regard once again; after having seen a number of her films, I still don't see what makes her a potential actress. It was cringe-worthy at times, mind you, except for her boobs, of course. The caricatures of the people in the resistance weren't all that great either.
Otherwise, a lot of solid quality and a story that kept me glued to the screen for well over 2 hours, although the climax was somewhat unsatisfying and it came across more as a cheap paperback thriller.
Generous 3 stars for Verhoeven.
3*
Translated from Dutch · View original
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