One of the best ever

Rating: 10/10 (22 May 2014)

I had no idea this gem was hiding out there for 8 years. This is definitely one of the best movies I've ever seen. The casting was brilliant, the screenplay was a constant twist and turn, and Carice Van Houten is a superb actress. She uses her eyes better than just about any actress I can remember. In this film, she has a zest and spontaneity that are rare. Sebastian Koch is a great leading man.
Besides the excellent acting throughout (even the children do a great job), the best part is that this film simply shouts "authentic;" the Dutch know their subject, having lived through the terror, but Hollywood directors don't seem to know what WWII was all about. The day before I saw "Black Book," I saw "Monuments Men," which was cardboard and seemed almost a caricature of the actual events. Hollywood has lost the bubble and Dutch filmmakers have found it. I'll be looking for more great films from the Netherlands.