Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 04/04/07 (NY&LA) 04/27/07 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated R for some strong violence, graphic nudity, sexuality and language Running Time 2 hours 45 minutes Genre Suspense, Ware Director Paul Verhoeven Writer Gerard Soeteman, Paul Verhoeven Cast Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman, Halina Reijn, Waldemar Kobus, Derek de Lint Studio Sony Pictures Classics |
BLACK BOOK
SYNOPSIS
Holland 1944 – The final years of the Second World
War find the beautiful singer Rachel Stein (Carice Van
Houten) taking refuge with the Tsjempkema family in
rural Holland. Once a popular and wealthy singer,
Rachel has been waiting out the war like many Jews in
Europe, separated from her family and a moment away
from being caught by the Gestapo. Her temporary safe-
house is destroyed by an Allied bomber under fire by a
German fighter and Rachel is left in the arms of Rob
(Michel Huisman), a sympathetic young boy, who
promises to help her to safety. The next morning, Rob
takes Rachel to her contact in town, who she
hopes will help her find her family and escape across
into liberated territory.
They arrive at the home of Mr. Smaal (Dolf de Vries)
and his wife (Diana Dobbleman), a compassionate
lawyer who has worked secretly to help Jews escape
from Holland. Reluctantly, Mr. Smaal arranges for
Rachel to join her family and cross enemy lines into
Allied territory, marking her name and rendez-vous
point in a little black leather notebook. But during the
dangerous crossing, the boat is ambushed by German
troops. The Nazi’s ruthlessly kill the boats’ passengers
and Rachel only narrowly escapes by jumping
overboard into the river.
Holland 1944 – The final years of the Second World
War find the beautiful singer Rachel Stein (Carice Van
Houten) taking refuge with the Tsjempkema family in
rural Holland. Once a popular and wealthy singer,
Rachel has been waiting out the war like many Jews in
Europe, separated from her family and a moment away
from being caught by the Gestapo. Her temporary safe-
house is destroyed by an Allied bomber under fire by a
German fighter and Rachel is left in the arms of Rob
(Michel Huisman), a sympathetic young boy, who
promises to help her to safety. The next morning, Rob
takes Rachel to her contact in town, who she
hopes will help her find her family and escape across
into liberated territory.
They arrive at the home of Mr. Smaal (Dolf de Vries)
and his wife (Diana Dobbleman), a compassionate
lawyer who has worked secretly to help Jews escape
from Holland. Reluctantly, Mr. Smaal arranges for
Rachel to join her family and cross enemy lines into
Allied territory, marking her name and rendez-vous
point in a little black leather notebook. But during the
dangerous crossing, the boat is ambushed by German
troops. The Nazi’s ruthlessly kill the boats’ passengers
and Rachel only narrowly escapes by jumping
overboard into the river.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
The next morning, Rachel is rescued by Gerben Kuipers, one of the leaders of the Dutch resistance. A kind
and generous man, Kuipers offers Rachel a job and a safe place to stay. But embittered by the memory of
the ruthless murder of her family, Rachel decides to become a resistance fighter to seek revenge against
the Germans.
During her first mission, Rachel escorts Hans Akkermans (Thom Hoffman), another leader within the Dutch
resistance, to smuggle guns and correspondence aboard a train. Posing as a couple, they hope to sneak
past German troops patrolling the station, but when the Germans announce a thorough bag check, Rachel’
s quick thinking leads her into the arms of Ludwig Müntze (Sebastian Koch) the head of the Dutch SD.
Rachel charms capture Müntze’s attention, and as the soldiers ask for her bags he instructs them to leave
them alone. Their brief encounter makes a lasting impression on both Rachel and Müntze, but as they part,
both believe this to be their last encounter together.
That prediction, however, proves short lived after an accident reveals the resistances’ attempt to transport
weapons and ends with the capture of several top resistance fighters including Kuipers’ son. Blinded by
his love for his son, Kuipers solicits both Rachel and Akkermans to break into the SD headquarters to free
the captives. Remembering her encounter with Müntze, Rachel volunteers herself to seduce Müntze and
obtain the release of the captives.
Her initial meeting with Müntze results in her being hired as his assistant, assuring her close and intimate
contact with the leadership of the SD forces. Befriending Ronnie (Halina Reijn), Rachel is confronted by the
vicious ruthlessness of the Nazi regime and is even forced to print the execution orders for her captive
compatriots. Rachel soon learns the dire condition of the prisoners, and realizes that the future of their
survival lies in Müntze’s hands. The merciless nature of the Nazi leadership would normally never yield, but
Rachel discovers Müntze’s resolve wavering under the weight his conscience. Before Müntze is able to
finish secret negotiations with the resistance to cease fighting in exchange for the prisoners, his second in
command Franken (Waldemar Kobus) reveals Müntze’s secret negotiations to General Käutner (Christian
Berkel). Müntze is arrested and summarily condemned to death for treason and aiding the resistance.
Seizing this moment of turmoil in the Nazi leadership, Akkermans mounts a rescue in an attempt to free
the captured resistance fighters. But the surprise arrival of their small squad into the SD headquarters
was anticipated by the Germans. Unable to save any of the captured prisoners, Akkermans is the only one
to make it out alive. But unknown to the resistance fighters, Rachel helps Müntze, whom she has grown to
love, to escape.
The failed escape leads the resistance to believe they were betrayed by a self-serving traitor. Learning of
Müntze’s escape, they begin to believe that Rachel exchanged information for his release. Now on the run
from both the Nazi’s and the resistance, Rachel and Müntze spend the next several weeks waiting out the
war together.
Several months later, following the Allied liberation of Holland, Müntze and Rachel return to seek out Mr.
Smaal’s help to escape the harsh judgment of the victorious Dutch resistance. However, their return to the
jubilant city is not a welcome one. Together, Rachel and Müntz are confronted with the harsh vengeance of
the victor’s justice as Müntze is recognized as the leader of the SD. Trying to flee the throngs of civilians
demanding his arrest, Müntze is captured and executed on the orders of General Käutner, claiming yet one
more victim for his ruthless regime. Alone once more, Rachel sets out to uncover the person who framed
her as the traitor and right her blighted wartime record. But, as she delves deeper into the events of
the past, Rachel uncovers trails of deceit pointing to compatriots she once counted as her closest friends
and embarks upon a retributive justice of her own, to right the wrongs of this unforgiving period of history.
--©Sony Pictures Classics
and generous man, Kuipers offers Rachel a job and a safe place to stay. But embittered by the memory of
the ruthless murder of her family, Rachel decides to become a resistance fighter to seek revenge against
the Germans.
During her first mission, Rachel escorts Hans Akkermans (Thom Hoffman), another leader within the Dutch
resistance, to smuggle guns and correspondence aboard a train. Posing as a couple, they hope to sneak
past German troops patrolling the station, but when the Germans announce a thorough bag check, Rachel’
s quick thinking leads her into the arms of Ludwig Müntze (Sebastian Koch) the head of the Dutch SD.
Rachel charms capture Müntze’s attention, and as the soldiers ask for her bags he instructs them to leave
them alone. Their brief encounter makes a lasting impression on both Rachel and Müntze, but as they part,
both believe this to be their last encounter together.
That prediction, however, proves short lived after an accident reveals the resistances’ attempt to transport
weapons and ends with the capture of several top resistance fighters including Kuipers’ son. Blinded by
his love for his son, Kuipers solicits both Rachel and Akkermans to break into the SD headquarters to free
the captives. Remembering her encounter with Müntze, Rachel volunteers herself to seduce Müntze and
obtain the release of the captives.
Her initial meeting with Müntze results in her being hired as his assistant, assuring her close and intimate
contact with the leadership of the SD forces. Befriending Ronnie (Halina Reijn), Rachel is confronted by the
vicious ruthlessness of the Nazi regime and is even forced to print the execution orders for her captive
compatriots. Rachel soon learns the dire condition of the prisoners, and realizes that the future of their
survival lies in Müntze’s hands. The merciless nature of the Nazi leadership would normally never yield, but
Rachel discovers Müntze’s resolve wavering under the weight his conscience. Before Müntze is able to
finish secret negotiations with the resistance to cease fighting in exchange for the prisoners, his second in
command Franken (Waldemar Kobus) reveals Müntze’s secret negotiations to General Käutner (Christian
Berkel). Müntze is arrested and summarily condemned to death for treason and aiding the resistance.
Seizing this moment of turmoil in the Nazi leadership, Akkermans mounts a rescue in an attempt to free
the captured resistance fighters. But the surprise arrival of their small squad into the SD headquarters
was anticipated by the Germans. Unable to save any of the captured prisoners, Akkermans is the only one
to make it out alive. But unknown to the resistance fighters, Rachel helps Müntze, whom she has grown to
love, to escape.
The failed escape leads the resistance to believe they were betrayed by a self-serving traitor. Learning of
Müntze’s escape, they begin to believe that Rachel exchanged information for his release. Now on the run
from both the Nazi’s and the resistance, Rachel and Müntze spend the next several weeks waiting out the
war together.
Several months later, following the Allied liberation of Holland, Müntze and Rachel return to seek out Mr.
Smaal’s help to escape the harsh judgment of the victorious Dutch resistance. However, their return to the
jubilant city is not a welcome one. Together, Rachel and Müntz are confronted with the harsh vengeance of
the victor’s justice as Müntze is recognized as the leader of the SD. Trying to flee the throngs of civilians
demanding his arrest, Müntze is captured and executed on the orders of General Käutner, claiming yet one
more victim for his ruthless regime. Alone once more, Rachel sets out to uncover the person who framed
her as the traitor and right her blighted wartime record. But, as she delves deeper into the events of
the past, Rachel uncovers trails of deceit pointing to compatriots she once counted as her closest friends
and embarks upon a retributive justice of her own, to right the wrongs of this unforgiving period of history.
--©Sony Pictures Classics