Black Book [videorecording (DVD)] / Sony Pictures Classics ; Fu Works presents ; a VIP Medienfonds 4 production ; a Paul Verhoeven film ; producer, San Fu Maltha ; original story by Gerard Soeteman ; screenplay by Gerard Soeteman, Paul Verhoeven ; directed by Paul Verhoeven.
Originally produced as a Dutch motion picture in 2006. Special features: Commentary with director Paul Verhoeven [audio feature]; Black Book: The Special [making of featurette] (26 min.); Previews (21 min.) Carice van Houten (Rachel/Ellis), Sebastian Koch (Ludwig Müntze), Thom Hoffman (Hans Akkermans), Halina Reijn (Ronnie), Waldemar Kobus (Günther Franken), Derek de Lint (Gerben Kuipers), Christian Berkel (General Käutner), Dolf de Vries (Notary Smaal), Peter Blok (Van Gein), Michiel Huisman (Rob.)
Contents:
Friend from the war -- Air raid -- Visitor in the night -- Massacre -- Smuggled in -- Resistance -- Strangers on a train -- Change in plans -- Infiltration -- Music with a murder -- Sleeping with the enemy -- Interrogation -- Planting the bug -- Listening in -- Kidnap gone wrong -- Suspicion -- Rescue attempt -- Ambush -- Betrayal -- Liberation -- Parade -- Death warrant -- Branded a traitor -- Chocolate -- Black book -- Failed escape -- Suffication -- End credits.
Summary:
Rachel is the daughter of an affluent Rotterdam Jewish family who are ambushed while trying to escape into Allied territory. She alone survives, and ends up in the Dutch Resistance, transformed into blond Ellis de Vries, playing Mata Hari to high-ranking German officer Ludwig Müntze. The officer can feel the Allies closing in, and is eager to forge a separate peace with the resistance fighters who may soon become the Dutch government, and keeps her secret. Meanwhile, someone in the resistance is systematically undermining the operation and betraying escaping Jewish families. For Rachel and Müntze alike, life in occupied Holland is terrifying. Expectations can be fatally reversed in seconds, and interlocking webs of secrecy and betrayal keep everyone always on edge.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.