Review of Black Book (2006) by Dal C — 20 Dec 2013

Black Book (Dutch: Zwartboek) - film was co-written (with Gerard Soeteman,) and directed by Paul Verhoeven and produced by Rob Houwer. Starring Carice van Houten (Valkyrie), Sebastian Koch, Halina Reijn. Black Book is set in Dutch World-War. Film was premiered at Venice Film Festival. Carice van Houten gives one of the best performances from European actresses. Film was Dutch entry for Best Foreign Language Film, but could not make it to final list - BAFTA nominated the film in the category of Best Film Not in the English Language (though there is little bit of English dialogues in the movie). Film has been voted the best film ever made in the Netherlands - it is also, of superlative magnitude in the budget space. Film was premiered at Venice Film Festival, and nominated for Golden Lion - it won Young Cinema Award for 'Best International Film' - it also won three categories of Golden Calves at Netherlands Film Festival - others include Toronto International Film Festival.

Film is set in Dutch World-War - a blonde young Jewish girl Ellis (Houten) who wants to escape to Belgium with her father, mother and young brother - when their boat is ambushed by SS Police deputy Franken. He takes all money, jewels of murdered Jews in his custody. Ellis joins resistance who infiltrate her as informer by working at Nazi compound, under control of Nazi commander Müntze (Sebastian Koch - Oscar-winning German film The Lives of Others) - she encounters Müntze on train in pre-planned attempt. Müntze pets habit of collecting historical stamps of country, he is usually posted to. - however, Müntze discloses to her that he knew about who she was, since it no coincidence that he tumbles over a lady all of sudden, who happens to gift him royal postal-stamps that he was looking for years. Müntze tells her about how his wife and kids were bombed inside his house, and that's why he has been negotiating with resistance to disarm voluntarily in return for fair treatment.

Verhoeven could only make this movie in Europe, than in the United States, where he had migrated and made some passionate movies. He takes fair amount of liberty to portray the sides of two events from the history, that is all true and combines different real-events, as well. Verhoeven shows us, how the post-war events only changed the faces of terror, when locals started inflicting similar humiliating acts and torturous upon 'traitors' or 'Nazi-sympathizers'. There is suspense, and there is non-stop thrill, not without some characters like Müntze who you would very much wish to see, escape punishment from resistance, as well as accusation of being stamped as 'traitor' for negotiating with terrorists. Go ahead and have as much as I did - only now I realize why Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards was somewhat worth-watching, because he surely, might have watched this movie.