Fresh
A hard-core war film with raw violence, intense action, graphic sexuality and a twisting plot that offers a series of surprises.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
Black Book
To fight the enemy, she must become one of them.
2006 · 2h 25m · R
Drama, Thriller, War
Directed by
Paul Verhoeven
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Black Book
Overview
Israel, 1956: Jewish teacher Rachel Stein rather unexpectedly meets an old friend at the kibbutz. It brings back memories of her experiences in the Netherlands during the war, memories of betrayal. In September 1944, Rachel's hiding place is bombed by Allied troops; she makes contact with a resistance member and joins a group of Jews to be smuggled across the Biesbosch to the freed South Netherlands. Only Rachel escapes a massacre by patrol Germans, and is rescued by a resistance group under the leadership of Gerben Kuipers, whose son is captured trying to smuggle weapons. Kuipers asks Rachel to seduce SS-hauptsturmführer Ludwig Müntze, a mission that she will soon learn that the boat attack wasn't a coincidence.
Director and cast
- Paul Verhoeven Director
- Carice van Houten as Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries
- Sebastian Koch as Ludwig Müntze
- Thom Hoffman as Hans Akkermans
- Halina Reijn as Ronnie
- Waldemar Kobus as Günther Franken
- Matthias Schoenaerts as Joop
- Derek de Lint as Gerben Kuipers
- Christian Berkel as General Käutner
- Dolf de Vries as Notary Wim Smaal
- Peter Blok as Van Gein
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
77%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Verhoeven never loses sight of the larger message -- that in those evil times, ordinary people were forced to do extraordinary, and even awful, things just to live long enough to tell their tale.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Rotten
Paul Verhoeven's WWII drama stars the lovely Dutch actress Carice van Houten as a Jewish Resistance worker, and costars her breasts. All three deserve awards consideration.
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com
Rotten
The happy ending demands that [Verhoeven's] return-journey film -- Black Book -- be a rousing artistic triumph. It isn't. Too many of his lazy Hollywood habits have followed him home.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Fresh
Insanely entertaining -- and often just plain insane -- World War II melodrama. You may hate yourself in the morning, but you'll have to admit Verhoeven gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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