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

Featured in The Runestone (1991)

User Reviews

De Aanslag or a jigsaw.

What is really fascinating in this Dutch movie is the way the past takes shape again,little by little,on a very long period:the hero is a middle-age man when he finally learns the final truth .What is less convincing in the implausibility of these situations and the main flaw of the work :each time a new character appears,outside of course of the two wives,his only purpose is to provide the hero with new facts about the tragedy he went through when he was 12.

And however the story is absorbing:the first scenes ,during the fateful night are harrowing,first in the parents 'house or in the icy landscape that surrounds it or in the dungeon where the young boy meets the female Resistance fighter.

Then begins the child's adult life and while there are very strong scenes ,there are also some flaws: too much voice-over ("He spends his Easter holiday in London" "He gets married" are completely pointless:the picture is enough),and it's really difficult to follow the hero's psychological change (why for instance does he get divorce?) But its questionings (who are the heroes ? who are the traitors?) sometimes recalls Jorge Luis Borges.One of the best scenes shows Anton talking with the collaborator's son:who is the victim NOW? did this young man and his mother deserve what happened to them?"They 're living" replies Anton.

And is Anton's attitude -stay away from the events that shakes the world- so worthwhile?That's why the last scene is very revealing:finally he understood that responsibility is everywhere and should be shared by everyone.

In spite of its flaws,it's certainly one of the most interesting European movies of the eighties.