Zwartboek (2006)

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers:

Gerard Soeteman (written by)
Paul Verhoeven (written by)

Release Date:

14 September 2006 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | War

Tagline:

To fight the enemy, she must become one of them.

Plot:

In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.

Plot Keywords:

Resistance | Hiding | Boat | Netherlands | Hiding Place

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 11 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Carice van Houten	...	Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries
Sebastian Koch	...	Ludwig Müntze
Thom Hoffman	...	Hans Akkermans
Halina Reijn	...	Ronnie
Waldemar Kobus	...	Günther Franken
Derek de Lint	...	Gerben Kuipers
Christian Berkel	...	General Käutner
Dolf de Vries	...	Notary Wim Smaal
Peter Blok	...	Van Gein
Michiel Huisman	...	Rob
Ronald Armbrust	...	Tim Kuipers
Frank Lammers	...	Kees
Matthias Schoenaerts	...	Joop
Johnny de Mol	...	Theo
Xander Straat	...	Maarten

Also Known As:

Black Book (Germany) (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Das schwarze Buch (Germany) (TV title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong violence, graphic nudity, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

145 min

Country:

Netherlands | Germany | Belgium

Language:

Dutch | English | German | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | USA:R | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Japan:PG-12 | Australia:MA | Spain:18 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:M18 | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

's-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Fu Works

Trivia:

The movie was almost canceled in 2004, when many of the (foreign) companies that had promised to fund the movie, had not yet paid up. Production was abruptly green-lit again in the autumn of 2005, when the 16 million Euro budget was finally secured. This allowed the production team only a couple of months for principal photography.

Goofs:

Factual errors: After the "Hunger Winter" of 1944, there are no sheep in the fields any more, as are shown in the last part when they are following Hans.

Quotes:

Rachel Stein aka Ellis de Vries: It is their intention, that for the queen and my fatherland, I have hook up with a powerful SD'er... Sleep with him...
Notary Smaal: Well you're on your own then. I can't help you with that.

Movie Connections:

References Mata Hari (1931)

Soundtrack:

A Hundred Years from Today

Excellent WWII thriller

Saw it at Toronto Int. Film Festival with Paul Verhoeven and Carice van Houten on stage. This movie has Verhoeven's trademark stamp all over it. It's evident this film was a more personal project for him. Non stop action and good acting, especially from the lead actress, Carice van Houten. I've seen other films (American and French) about Resistance fighters during WWII, but non of them gripped me by the throat like this one. I admit Verhoeven is at times a bit heavy-handed, especially the sound effects of German machine guns, but the story never sags. It's a "By the seat of your pants" type of movie. After you leave the theater, the impact of the story stays with you for days. Go and see it when it comes to your local cinema in North America. I highly recommend it.