Zwartboek (Black Book) - 2007

[happyfilmluvguy]

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Set in 1944 World War II, is this untold true story of a Dutch Jewish girl who infiltrated a Nazi base as an undercover informer of the resistance.

I saw this film last week, and it was very intense, but enjoyable. This is an independent film that pushed it's way through to getting a good budget and it shows.

It's a limited release, so for those who do not have a theater showing it, that's why they invented home video. Go view it!

 

[positivelypinup]

oh i saw a preview for that movie in dallas. I cant wait to see it. It looked great.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Just checked out some info on it on the web. It looks great, I'm looking forward to seeing it. Hopefully it will be playing in the art deco theater down the street from my condo. They seem to get hold of limited released, not mainstream films.

 

[texasgirl]

We went and saw this movie the other day. It was fabulous! Had just the right mixture of action, romance, thrills and suspense. I highly recommend it, if you can find it in your area, or wait for the DVD.

 

[LizzieMaine]

We ran this earlier this summer -- drew decent crowds, but some folks were put off a bit by a particularly filthy scene toward the end. (If you've seen the picture you know what I mean -- I use "filthy" advisedly.) It's not a film for the squeamish, but it's extremely well done, and Carice Van Houten offers a brilliant performance in the lead role. Recommended if you think you can handle it.

 

[The Wolf]

I thought this was one of Verhoeven's better movies. It was also one his less squeamish movies.
It looked great and the directing and acting were top notch.

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[poetman]

I just saw this last night. It was decent, not as engaging as I would have expected. I feel like the female protagonist could have been more convincing. I was surprised to read that she got such positive reviews. Her character drifted between two opposing sides far too easily. I don't understand how there could be no moral struggle. When she is first approached in the facotry and asked if she would do "whatever it takes," she doesn't flinch in saying "yes." The dialogue could have been a bit more challenging here as well. I'm sure a screenwriter could have thougt of something more original than "whatever it takes." I heard someone remark that the director's intent was to portray morally questionalbe characters, who cannot be easily condemned. While I appreciate his intent, (if this was it) I don't think it was accomplished. Rather, I feel the film portrays underdeveloped characters. I loved the vintage feel of the film, and I really enjoyed the twists in the plot, but the film lacked a complexity. First of all, I didn't believe a Jewish woman would act as she would--sleeping with a Nazi, and arguably loving him--nor do I believe a nazi would have responded so favorably. After all, it takes a bit more than touching a woman's breasts to reverse deep rooted social prejudice. That whole scene completely undermines and minimizes humanity, and it reduces us to sexually charged idiots. The film seemed confused, not knowing whether it wanted to portray a romance, ambivalence in human nature, repentance in character, or if it just wanted to be "cool." I thought the director could have made some really important points about humanity, self-knowledge, and desire, but it seemed like he just looked for the easy way out.

 

[ValerieAmelia]

Her character drifted between two opposing sides far too easily. I don't understand how there could be no moral struggle. When she is first approached in the facotry and asked if she would do "whatever it takes," she doesn't flinch in saying "yes."

I think that's what the director was going for...People would do anything for work, like she said "work is work". And as for moral struggle I think she was more looking out for herself which is what everybody had to do to survive in those hard times. I agree that these feelings weren't accomplished, but I really did enjoy the movie and I would recommend it

 

[AmateisGal]

Great movie

This is one of the few movies that I did not have the "traitor" or "villain" figured out halfway through the movie. I won't say who it is for those that haven't seen it, of course, but suffice to say it knocked the socks off me!

 

[Antje]

I'm dutch and I didn't even see the movie,
so terrible of myself,
even my friends are telling me how great this movie was

oh shame on me

antje

 

[missjo]

It was one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time.
The subject is perhaps a bit too close to home for me, I am specialised, or should I say obsessed with the war in the Netherlands.
And as a former moviemaker myself I also couldnt help spotting every single mistake.

The storyline is really bad, its unbelievable and silly.
The background of this story is the Hungerwinter in western Holland late 1944, early 1945, very little in the movie shows us a bit of that story and what we see is rarely authentic.
The worst and darkest days in our history almost seem 'kind of okay' in this movie.
A really bad and predictable movie thats very unrealistic and unauthentic.

PS... I am in it... as an extra...

 

[scotrace]

The plot seemed far-fetched and unlikely. Not my favourite film. But I may have to see it again to try and spot you!

Do you have any good film recommendations for similar subject matter, missjoeri?

 

[missjo]

Hahaha to spot me you need to flick trough the liberation scene frame by frame.
I am the woman looing at our 'heroine' in a rather unpleasant way

The Dutch are, or were, rather good at making war movies, I am not sure wich ones you can get with english subtitles but if you find any of these you'll be in luck.
MUCH better then this Black Book nonsense.

-Soldaat van Oranje
Also a Paul Verhoeven movie, made when he still knew how to make a movie and this one based on a real real story.
It also has the rather dashing Rutger Hauer in it....yay!
I am sure this has come out with english subtitles;
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076734/

-Het meisje met het Rode haar
About our most famous Dutch resistancefighter, Hannie Schaft, a young girl.
I met her comrades from back then a few times, amazing people.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082731/

-De Aanslag
About the resistance shooting someone and what happened to everyone involved afterwards.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090576/

-In de schaduw van de overwinning
Great movie showing all kinds of resistance and collaboration, very authentic.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091263/

 

[Doctor Strange]

As I recently said on another thread about this film -

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=29263

- I thought it looked good, but was totally unbelievable and absurdly overwrought.