Black Book
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Cast: Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman
In Dutch, German and English with English subtitles
Paul Verhoeven is best known for his big Hollywood films, usually involving sci-fi (Total Recall, Robocop) or sex (Basic Instinct, Showgirls). They might not have always met with critical acclaim but they were very popular cult movies. After the disappointing Hollowman, Verhoeven returned to his native Holland and made Black Book (Zwartboek), a film about the Dutch Resistance during the final months of WWII.
The story of Rachel Steinn (Clarice van Houten), a young Jewish cabaret singer, who infiltrates the invading Nazi headquarters as a spy for the resistance, is an amalgam of real characters and true stories. The film manages to avoid the usual clichés associated with wartime Jews. It shows acts of brutality, deceit and kindness from all sides of the conflict, along with plenty of surprises, making for an intensely emotional movie where you never know whom to trust, and your loyalties lie only with the lead.
None of the actors are known outside of their native Netherlands and Germany, but the performances are excellent, showing that it's not just the US and UK who produce quality talent. This film is far removed from the director's Hollywood output, but maintains all the technical prowess that made them popular, to create his most assured film to date.
Black Book is in cinemas from January 19.
Cast: Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman
In Dutch, German and English with English subtitles
Paul Verhoeven is best known for his big Hollywood films, usually involving sci-fi (Total Recall, Robocop) or sex (Basic Instinct, Showgirls). They might not have always met with critical acclaim but they were very popular cult movies. After the disappointing Hollowman, Verhoeven returned to his native Holland and made Black Book (Zwartboek), a film about the Dutch Resistance during the final months of WWII.
The story of Rachel Steinn (Clarice van Houten), a young Jewish cabaret singer, who infiltrates the invading Nazi headquarters as a spy for the resistance, is an amalgam of real characters and true stories. The film manages to avoid the usual clichés associated with wartime Jews. It shows acts of brutality, deceit and kindness from all sides of the conflict, along with plenty of surprises, making for an intensely emotional movie where you never know whom to trust, and your loyalties lie only with the lead.
None of the actors are known outside of their native Netherlands and Germany, but the performances are excellent, showing that it's not just the US and UK who produce quality talent. This film is far removed from the director's Hollywood output, but maintains all the technical prowess that made them popular, to create his most assured film to date.
Black Book is in cinemas from January 19.
posted by Chris Patmore at 12:41 PM
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