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Poster for Black Book

Black Book

Seen it?

2006 | 145 min | Drama, Thriller, War

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (77% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and history buffs. If you loved Inglourious Basterds or Conspiracy, start here.
The mood
Tense, intense.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 25 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • It's in Dutch, so expect subtitles (or a dub).

Israel, 1956: Jewish teacher Rachel Stein rather unexpectedly meets an old friend at the kibbutz. It brings back memories of her experiences in the Netherlands during the war, memories of betrayal. In September 1944, Rachel's hiding place is bombed by Allied troops; she makes contact with a resistance member and joins a group of Jews to be smuggled across the Biesbosch to the freed South Netherlands. Only Rachel escapes a massacre by patrol Germans, and is rescued by a resistance group under the leadership of Gerben Kuipers, whose son is captured trying to smuggle weapons. Kuipers asks Rachel to seduce SS-hauptsturmführer Ludwig Müntze, a mission that she will soon learn that the boat attack wasn't a coincidence.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    2 wins and 3 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $27 million worldwide on a $21 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 140K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Paul Verhoeven

  • Carice van HoutenRachel Stein / Ellis de Vries
  • Sebastian KochLudwig Müntze
  • Thom HoffmanHans Akkermans
  • Halina ReijnRonnie
  • Waldemar KobusGünther Franken
  • Matthias SchoenaertsJoop
  • Derek de LintGerben Kuipers
  • Christian BerkelGeneral Käutner
  • Dolf de VriesNotary Wim Smaal
  • Peter BlokVan Gein