Gripping

Rating: 8/10 (23 February 2008)

When a film has had a lot of comment, I'm reluctant to spend time simply repeating others' comments: on the other hand, there is a 10-line minimum! Put me down as one of those who thought this was a good film. It is a gripping war drama, wholly credible in both concept and execution. Although it has the gloss, drive, and production values which we have come to expect from modern films, it never loses sight of the humanity which lay behind the real-world events which are fictionalised in this film.
And it has a splendid cast, mostly unknown outside Holland, headed by the wonderful Carice van Houten who simply lights up the screen whenever she is on it. Her performance is a standout.