Traitors and Truth

Rating: 9/10 (27 August 2008)

In 1944, in the occupied Holland, the Jewish Rachel Stein (Carice van Houten) is hiding from the Nazis in a house of a Christian family. When her hiding place is bombed, Rachel escapes by chance, but she is found by a stranger called Van Gein (Peter Blok) that invites her to join a group of Jews in a boat to escape to Belgium on the next night. He advises her to bring money and jewels for her survival and very few luggage. Rachel visits lawyer and friend of her family Wim Small (Dolf de Vries) that gives her a large amount for her travel. When she meets the refugees, she finds that her family is in the group. While crossing the swamp, a Nazi patrol boat arrives and kills the fugitives, but Rachel is the only one to survive. Later she joins a cell of resistance leaded by the Dutch Gerben Kuipers (Derek de Lint) under the identity of Ellis de Vries; after meeting the Nazi Officer Ludwig Müntze (Sebastian Koch) in a train, Kuipers proposes Ellis to work as a spy seducing Müntze. During her assignment, Rachel recognizes Günther Franken (Waldemar Kobus) as the commander of the attack to the boat of refugees and later she discovers that the murders are part of a scheme with a traitor in the resistance team.
"Zwartboek" is a spectacular epic, with an impressive theme that joins drama, romance, action, betrayals and thriller in times of war in a story full of twists. Paul Verhoeven has another awesome work not only as director, but also as writer together with Gerard Soeteman. The locations, cinematography and art decoration are amazing, with a magnificent reconstruction of the landscapes of Netherlands in the end of World War II. The performances are top-notch, and the actress Carice van Houten is wonderful, giving a unique acting. I regret only that this skilled actress is absolutely unknown in Brazil, and I really expect to have a chance to see her again on the screen. I only do not understand why this outstanding movie has no nominations to the Oscar. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "A Espiã" ("The Spy")
Note: On 15 January 2011, I saw this film again.
On 24 September 2016, I saw this film again.