An instant classic!

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2007)

It's one of those movies I expected the least and surprised me the most, and it's always such a delight when it happened. This is one of the best movies I've seen in 2007. I didn't realize it's in Dutch till later (I thought it was a German movie because I recognized one of the actors from 'the lives of others', another favorite of mine in 2007). With no familiar faces in the movies, it has the look and feel of old classics. It's almost a pitch perfect movie except I personally felt the last 30 minutes could be a bit more taut. I have been avoiding Nazi/Jews movies in the past few years because I've seen so many and am tired of that kind of depressing stories, but the human conditions and emotions in this movies are so universal and relevant it drew me in. It's depressing, thrilling, and uplifting at the same time. There is no black and white morality in it and it is respectful to viewers' intelligence. It has the most memorable and lively and strong female character I haven't seen in movies for years. Many people compared this movie to 'Lust, Caution', I haven't seen it but already know it can't be better than this one, even I'm a big fan of Ang Lee. I wish people could pay more attention to good film like this, instead of honoring pretentious and melodramatic craps like 'atonement' that sort.