Black Book (2006)

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Starring: Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman

In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.

Director Paul Verhoeven brought us a the blockbusters ‘RoboCop’, ‘Total Recall’, ‘Basic Instinct’, ‘Starship Troopers’ and ‘Hollow Man’. ‘Black Book’ is a very different style for Verhoeven, and also not your average war movie. The film is essentially a drama set during the war, and chronicles the life of Rachel Stein (excellently portrayed by Carice van Houten).

From being deceived to fighting back and becoming a leader in her own right, it is harrowing at times to see what Rachel has to go through. The film is shocking, disturbing and realistic. This is an epic, all-round incredible production with beautiful photography and cinematography. Carice is senstional!

Nominated for a BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film, the film won 13 awards with a further 23 nominations.

In Dutch, German, English and Hebrew.