The Assault (1986)
"De aanslag" (original title)

In January 1945, during the 2nd world-war, the Dutch resistance kills a collaborator in the street where the 12 year old Anton Steenwijk lives. The man was shot in front of his neighbors ... See full summary »

Director:

Fons Rademakers

Writers:

Gerard Soeteman (scenario), Harry Mulisch (novel)

Stars:

Derek de Lint, Marc van Uchelen, Monique van de Ven

Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Derek de Lint	...	Anton Steenwijk
Marc van Uchelen	...	Young Anton Steenwijk
Monique van de Ven	...	Saskia de Graaff / Truus Coster
John Kraaykamp	...	Cor Takes
Huub van der Lubbe	...	Fake Ploeg
Elly Weller	...	Mrs. Beumer
Ina van der Molen	...	Karin Korteweg
Frans Vorstman	...	Father Steenwijk
Edda Barends	...	Mother Steenwijk
Casper de Boer	...	Peter Steenwijk
Wim de Haas	...	Mr. Korteweg
Hiske van der Linden	...	Young Karin Korteweg
Piet de Wijn	...	Mr. Beumer
Akkemay	...	Sandra
Kees Coolen	...	Gerrit-Jan

Storyline

In January 1945, during the 2nd world-war, the Dutch resistance kills a collaborator in the street where the 12 year old Anton Steenwijk lives. The man was shot in front of his neighbors house, but is moved by them to the house of the family Steenwijk. Because of this, his father, mother and brother are killed by the Germans, and their house is set to fire. During his life, Anton meets several people that tell him more about what really happened on the night of the assault.

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Plot Keywords:

resistance | world war two | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch English German

Release Date:

6 February 1986 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

The Assault

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Box Office

Gross:

$203,781 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fons Rademakers Produktie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

155 min 155 min (general release)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Allemaal film: Een golf van vernieuwing (2007)

User Reviews

the woman's mouth

"The Assault", more than any other movie, shows that the Netherlands may have Europe's best output in terms of movies. In January, 1945, the Nazis are still occupying the Netherlands. One night, a Nazi guard is shot while on patrol. Immediately, the people in the house next to which he falls move him in front of the next house, where protagonist Anton Steenwijk lives. The Nazis kill Anton's parents and brother, and take Anton prisoner. In jail, he meets a woman, but can only see her mouth. She comforts him for a few minutes before they take her away.

After the war ends, Anton spends the rest of his life trying to come to terms with what happened that night, and every woman with whom he hooks up has the same sort of mouth as the woman in the jail cell. Then, at the end of the movie, while at an anti-nuclear march in Paris, he learns the full story of what happened that night.

"The Assault" is a movie that will truly blow you away. It will shake you, but it's also about hope. You have to see it to understand how great it is. I recommend it to everyone.