Zwartboek (Black Book) is an artistic achievement of the first order.

Rating: 10/10 (11 November 2007)

Heartstopping action and heartfelt humanity combine to make Zwartboek (Black Book) a must see film that quite uniquely entertains and educates at the same time. This is an artistic achievement of the highest order. Paul Verhoeven's film manages to wrench a range of intense emotions from viewers as he simultaneously takes them for a thrill-packed roller coaster ride that is carefully plotted to keep riders on the very edge of their seats. Carise van Houten sizzles in a role that she seems to play so effortlessly one wonders why she isn't more in demand. Her face betrays emotion without the wild emoting that many lesser actresses seem to favor. Van Houten's on screen relationship with Sebastian Koch is similar to the complex interplay one encounters in exquisite literature. Watching this movie leaves one both breathless and stimulated by the intensity of the emotions that flood the screen at a frantic pace throughout. This film is so good that one need not read the subtitles to comprehend what is occurring on screen, although they obviously help viewers realize the full complexity of the film. This film draws positive parallels to Schindler's List and Nowhere in Africa. If you like quality films, you'll love Zwartboek. PTMR