Page 22 - Boca ViewPointe - May '21

Page 22, Viewpointe May 2021

Film Review: Black Book (Zwartboek)

By Nils A. Shapiro officer, Ludwig Muntze (Sebastian Koch), which would Actor, Best Film,
then enable her to gain access within the Nazi headquarters Best Director
The question is, and help in the eventual raid. and Best Foreign
“Whom can you trust?” While all of this is playing out, an entire cast of Language Film.
interesting characters on both sides is interacting with Time Magazine
That question is at one another at a time of war, when one false step – and and The Village
the heart of this month’s misplaced trust – could lead to tragic consequences. Ellis Voice included it
review, for two reasons: (Rachel) relies on her father’s attorney, Mr. Smaal (Dolf de among the 10 best
first, because it is the theme Vries) to provide her with her family’s confidential family films of 2007.
that is at the very heart documents. Later, she turns to the Resistance’s medical Now, let me
of this film; and, second, specialist, Hans Akkermans (Thom Hoffman) for help when offer my opinion.
because it is a question you not feeling well and is given a suspicious injection. Within It has been
may wish to consider when deciding whether or not Black the Resistance, as well as among the Nazi high command, 10 days since I
Book is deserving of your time and attention. there is a critical assumption of trustworthiness among the watched this film
Trust, of course, is an important aspect of any members of each group, so it is unthinkable that Gunther streaming on
relationship between two or more people – but never Franken (Waldemar Kobus), a loyal Nazi officer, is hiding Amazon Prime
more than at a time when, if misplaced, it can mean the a fortune in money and jewels stolen from the Jews that television, and
difference between life and death. Such is the case, over belongs to the Reich. These and many other relationships each day that
and over again, in this film, which takes place during the require a level of trust that, as things turn out, may not passes I grow
Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II. always be deserved. more and more convinced that there are two things about
Early in this film, a Dutch Jew, Rachel Stein (played The second reason for the question that opens my review, it that will stay with me for a very long time. The first is
by Carice van Houten, a stunning woman who steals every “Whom can you trust?” relates to the decision you must how impressed I am with the creative courage shown by
scene in which she appears), meets a man who claims to be make as to whether or not you feel this film is deserving director Paul Verhoeven in his choice of the film’s opening
a member of the Dutch Resistance rescuing Jews by ferrying of your time. Here are some facts for you to consider: scene – an act of bravery I didn’t appreciate until the film
them out of Holland with all of their savings. She trusts The critic for The New York Times described this film, was over, because of an unusual reason I will not explain
him and arranges to leave with her family, only to watch when it was released in the United States in April 2007, here for fear it will be a spoiler. I can’t explain this any
them intercepted, murdered and robbed by a Nazi patrol as “a supremely vulgar romp ... encompasses the best and further; you will have to see the film in order to understand.
boat that has been notified by betrayal. She alone escapes worst of its director’s signature pulp brutalism, which The other aspect of the film that will stay with me for a
by diving overboard into the marsh. means it’s pretty much a hoot.” A rather poor reaction. And very long time is the lead actress, whom I had never seen
Changing her name to Ellis de Vries in order to avoid England’s Guardian newspaper gave it only one star! before: Clarice van Houten. If the old Hollywood cliché
being sent to a concentration camp by the occupying Nazi On the other hand, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone that a movie camera “loves” some actresses is true, then
forces, she is recruited by the real Dutch Resistance groups wrote: “(This) tremendously exciting film can suddenly, the camera virtually captures this: She is at least partially
who are stockpiling arms and explosives in preparation for unexpectedly move you to tears. Black Book, the first film nude in enough scenes to invite seduction, including one in
a raid against Gestapo headquarters at The Hague. Verhoeven has made in the Netherlands in two decades, is which she hides her Jewishness from the Nazis by changing
As horrific and distasteful as the prospect is to her, Ellis spoken in Dutch, German, Hebrew and English, and it lasts from brunette to blonde on more than just her hairdo.
agrees when asked to use her obvious beauty to work her for 145 minutes. There’s not a dull second in the bunch. Ironically, the one relationship in Black Book that begins
way into a romantic relationship with the leading Nazi SS Verhoeven is back, baby, and he’s got his mojo working ... as a pretense of trust but proves to be real, still ends with
no movie about the Dutch resistance during World War II a different form of betrayal. Again and again, one learns
has any right to be this wildly entertaining, not to mention the hard way throughout this film that trust is elusive and
this provocative and potentially erotic ... The chemistry precious.
Do You Want To Become A Clown???? from page 21 between van Houten and Koch is palpable. They are easily This one is worth your time. Trust me.
the hottest couple in movies right now.” *****
has to have an approved background check. Letters of Theatre audiences pretty much gave the film five stars, The Boca Raton Public Library has several DVDs of this
introduction, program planning, suggested stories to and such international film festivals as Holland’s Golden film in the Foreign Language section, under the German
read, songs to sing, simple silly activities including Calf Awards, the London Film Critics and British Film title, Zwartboek. Note: The film is produced so superbly
magic, juggling, make-up demonstration, games, Academy combined for 16 nominations or winner’s trophies that there is no problem understanding every bit of its
etc. are all provided so we can get started as soon as to Black Book in such categories as Best Actress, Best multi-lingual dialogue, some of which is in English. 
schools, libraries, day care, pre-school, etc. are open
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As I sit home writing this, with My mother-in-law was a sweet, loving woman. But her son,
my wife of 44 years in the kitchen whom she loved dearly, married a woman who she couldn’t
Is pain impacting and our only son working from stand. Her son was caught in the middle, but, as is usually the
his apartment in California, I’m
case, sided with his wife. And because of that, my mother-
your golf swing? reflecting on what really matters. in-law lost her relationship with not only her son, but her
Therapy can This world crisis has given me granddaughter as well.
time to see things in perspective.
help! We have I’ve been waking every morning I’m sounding more like a preacher than a lawyer. But here’s the
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