ZWARTBOEK (BLACK BOOK)
Holland, 2006, 145 minutes, Colour.
Carice Van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman, Derek de Lint.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven.
Director Paul Verhoeven made his name in his native Holland with such films as Turks Fruit, Spetters. He then went to the United States in the 1980s and made a number of significant films – in a rather in-your-face Dutch style: Robocop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Showgirls, Star Troupers. He has now returned to his country to make this memoir of Dutch participation in World War Two.
While the film is very reminiscent of the big-budget war memoir and action films of the 1960s (Operation Crossbow, The Dirty Dozen), it is reminiscent also of the tribute films made in the 1950s. MGM’s Betrayed (1954) with Clark Gable, Lana Turner and Victor Mature is very similar in its plot outline.
The film begins and ends on an Israeli kibbutz in 1956, also giving some insight into the consequences of World War Two and Hitler’s treatment of the Jews. The kibbutz has been set up with moneys confiscated by the Nazis from Jews. However, the film goes back in time to focus on a young woman who is being hidden by a Catholic family when their house is destroyed and she discovers that her parents are on a boat to be taken to freedom. She joins them – but Dutch traitors have sold out and the Jews are murdered and their goods confiscated. She joins the Dutch Resistance.
The film is also a portrait of the Dutch Resistance, the relentless leaders, the raids, the dangers experienced. The young woman, using her wits very quickly on a train, is able then to infiltrate Gestapo headquarters, have a relationship with the chief. This leads her to be able to plant a microphone in the office. However, there is a traitor amongst the Resistance and the plans go awry. With some detective work, especially after the end of the war, the traitors are revealed. There are some very powerful sequences at the end where the young woman, branded as a traitor herself, is humiliated by angry Dutch citizens and officials after the war.
The film does not paint a black and white picture of Dutch participation in the war – some people are heroic, others are traitors and greedy for their own gain, not scrupulous in betraying their fellow Dutch and, especially, Jewish citizens.
While Paul Verhoeven evokes memories of past films, his own franker style of film-making means that some of the sexual implications of the stories as well as scenes of violence are much more explicit in this film.
Carice van Houten shows great versatility in the central role. Sebastian Koch is a more sympathetic Gestapo leader. Thom Hoffmann (who had appeared in Verhoeven’s The Fourth Man) is the traitor.
The film always keeps the interest, is an example of somebody who is able to help a nation examine its conscience and look again at the history of the past without romanticising it – or, while romanticising it, look at some of the realities and the darker side as well.
1.A story of Holland, World War Two, Resistance, collaboration? As remembered from sixty years later? The work of Paul Verhoeven, his Dutch background, his time in Hollywood, his coming back home, looking at the war past, the national experience, heroism and villainy, the consequences?
2.The film in the style of the old-time war movie, of the movie spectacular of the 60s? Better effects, more direct and frank treatment?
3.The opening in Israel, the beginning and the end? The Jewish questions, the State of Israel? Israel in 1956, the kibbutz, the money from the traitors establishing the kibbutz? The end – and the conflict between Israel and Palestinians – and the resonances for the following fifty years?
4.Holland in 1944, the towns, the buildings, the war experience, occupation, the hiding places, bombs dropped to get rid of the load and destroying homes and people, the boats on the canals? Authentic? The range of the musical score – and the inclusion of German and patriotic songs?
5.The Jewish issue, Rachel and her family, her being separated, her being given a hiding place, her identity, concealing herself as a Christian, reciting the gospel text after memorising it? The difficulties, the lawyer arranging the place? Her being on the water, in love – and singing the English songs from her time as a cabaret artist? The bombs dropped, the destruction of the house? The arrest of the young man? Her going to the lawyer, getting the family money, the agent and his coming to the house to warn them, her following his advice, going with the group onto the boat, the captain and his sailing east instead of west? The betrayal and the slaughter of the Jewish passengers, the robbery of their goods? Rachel and her going overboard, hiding in the reeds?
6.The picture of the Dutch Resistance, the men and the women, their covers, the different raids, the discussions with the SS in order to provide peace, traitors in the group, the suffering they caused? Dutch anguish during the occupation? After the war?
7.The dealing with collaborators after the war, rounding them up, their work, Ronnie and her escape, the parties, Hitler’s birthday, her being with the liberators? The contrast with the traitors, their deals, exploitation of their own people? The rounding up of collaborators, the shaving of the heads of the women in the streets, the prisoners and the brutal treatment by fascist-like guards, the tipping of the excrement all over Rachel? The authorities coming in and rebuking these guards and dismissing them? The confusion, the brutality?
8.The portrait of Rachel, as symbol: Dutch, Jewish, the Resistance, external collaboration, the harsh treatment after the war, vindication? As a character, strong, her cabaret career, her hiding and coping, as a Christian, going to the lawyer, getting the money, van Gein and the group, reunited with the family, the brother and his operation (and the irony that Hans had done it)? The attack and the massacre? Her escape?
9.Her meeting the Resistance, helping, the portrait of the group, their cover, the trucks? The vegetables concealing the weapons? The raids, the garage? The man in charge, his son, Tim? Hans and his prominent place, leadership, the other members? Their personalities? The achievement by 1944? The air drop, the pick-up, the cover, broken and outdated medications? The chloroform not working in the attack on von Gein or for the removing of the bullet?
10.The SS and the Gestapo, the occupation, their presence, the contrast between Muntz and Franken? Rachel on the train, the cover being blown, Hans and Rachel together, her calling him a pervert, slapping him, hurrying with the bags, meeting Muntz, the discussion, her being saved, the issue of the stamps? Meeting Hans at the end?
11.The decision about Rachel, the cover, going to see Muntz, giving the stamps, getting the job, meeting Ronnie, the encounter with Franken – and seeing him as the man who ordered the massacre of the Jews? Her relationship with Muntz, sexual, the story about his dead wife and family? The effect on her? The issue of planting the microphone and her ability to do it?
12.The arrests, Tim and the others, the details of the torture, Franken and his brutality, the contrast with his behaviour with Ronnie, the sex, playing the piano at the socials?
13.The socials, Ronnie, Rachel singing, Franken and the piano and singing with her? Her overcoming her revulsion?
14.The plans to rescue Tim and the others, Hans and his leadership, Rachel letting them in, waiting, the Germans there, the shooting, Tim’s death, Hans and his escape?
15.The war coming to an end, the lawyer and his plans, suggesting the raid, the issue of the lists of Jews that Franken was using, Rachel unmasked by Muntz, her telling him about the jewels, the captain and the failure of finding any of the jewels?
16.Hitler’s birthday, the raid coinciding with the party, the preparations, cheerful upstairs, slaughter downstairs?
17.Rachel seen as a traitor, the talk over the microphone, her being blamed? Her becoming a prisoner? The excrement poured all over her? Getting out?
18.Muntz, more genial, the human face of German military? His being imprisoned, the captain and his attack on him? His having to be rescued? His escape? The irony of his being found, Ronnie and her love for him? His being ordered executed, the captain using the Canadians and the law to execute German officials?
19.The lawyer, his wife, Rachel confronting him, the truth about the lists, his wife, their deaths?
20.Franken, the attempted escape, the jewels, his being killed?
21.Rachel and her liberation, the reconciliation with Tim’s father? With Hans, the bonds of the past, going to visit him, the doctor being welcomed home, the revelation of the truth, his story, students, the deals with the doctor, killing off the partners, robbing Franken? His being abducted by Rachel and Tim’s father, in the coffin? Their sitting while he died? His appeals – and his abuse? Justice seen to be done? The cruelty and brutality?
22.The aftermath, the money from the Jewish victims paying for the kibbutz? Ronnie’s visit with her Canadian? A seeming peace – but with the prospect of Israel and Palestinian battles? A film from the early 21st century contemplating the realities of the middle of the 20th century?
