Review of Black Book (2006) by Yafo M — 02 Apr 2010
The Black Book is quite a difficult film to review. After the bleak, harrowing realism of Schindler's List, and films like The Pianist, it's slightly disorientating to see a story about the Nazi occupation of Europe (and the treatment of the jews) that sets out to be so... well, entertaining.
This story of a beautiful jewish girl who escapes the massacre of her family by the Germans only to fall in love with one of their high ranking SS Officers is told with passion and pace. Clarice Houten is extremely charismatic and endearing as the central character, a jew who has to survive in occupied Holland towards the end of the war - but she seems just a little too upbeat, sassy, confident and optimistic most of the time, given the traumatic events she encounters.
Complicated and exciting plot with many rapid turns and surprises, breaks the mould with few holds barred and a sometimes a little graphic. The intensity of war and the Jewish plight is conveyed with passion, compassion and reality from both sides of the fence. My only gripe would be that everybody in this film looked so healthy... but then, I suppose asking actors to starve themselves would be an idea too far.
The fact this film was not even nominated for the best foreign language film at the 2007 Oscars is a travesty.
This review of Black Book (2006) was written by Yafo M on 02 Apr 2010.
Black Book has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
