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 Black
Book (Zwartboek - 2006)
Tartan Video
R2 / PAL DVD
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Written By: Paul Verhoeven & Gerard Soeteman
Starring: Carice Van Houten & Sebastian Koch
Review by Phillip Escott
Paul Verhoeven leaves Hollywood behind and manages to
produce his best film since he went to Hollywood! I know, it
surprised no one. Black Book was a labor of love for its
makers, and a project that took 20 long years to complete,
the finished product is definitively worth your time. Those
expecting an art-house snooze-a-thon will be gladly
disappointed; this is a nasty and very sexy World War II
epic.
The gorgeous Carice van Houten plays Rachel Stein, a young
Jewish woman hiding with a Christian family, after getting
separated from her folks in Nazi occupied Holland. After a
bomb obliterates her hide-out she is forced to locate a
family friend who re-unites her with her folks and arranges
for them to leave, via boat, to Belgium. Naturally the Nazis
are waiting and gun them all down; she narrowly escapes and
is rescued by the Dutch Resistance.
Joining the cause, she takes the identity of Ellis de Vries
and is sent under-cover to infiltrate the Nazi party after a
brief encounter with a high ranking officer, Ludwig Muntze
(the excellent Sebastian Koch). An unexpected romance
blossoms between her and Muntze, but trouble awaits them as
plans fail and back stabbing inevitable arise. Who will be
left to see the Nazi’s removed from Dutch soil? And what
will be left of the ones that do survive?
This film is an absolute pleasure to watch, from its
gorgeous opening in Israel, through the harrowing events
that unfold in Holland, all the way to its luscious
conclusion – this film is first class. With a running time
of 140 minutes, it’s certainly a hefty viewing, but those
willing to take the plunge will find themselves wishing the
film would run for another 140 minutes. The cast are great;
you’ll be hard pressed to spot a mediocre performance
anywhere, plus van Houten has fantastic breasts.
The story requires your undivided attention, as a lot of
events happen to poor Rachel: including having a huge vat of
excrement poured on top of her – a truly revolting scene –
by the good guys! Plot twists are scattered throughout, as
are back stabbings and double crosses, so stay alert! To
help keep viewers alert, there is the lovely sight of Carice
van Houten’s naked self (yes, covered in poo at one point)
which, dear reader, is a beautiful vision to behold: aside
from all the dookie that is. |
