'Black Book' is mixture of classic and cynicism

In a refreshing twist on the standard narrative, the WWII thriller "Black Book" has as its heroine a beautiful, strong young Jewish woman in the Dutch Resistance. Rachel Stein is relentless and resourceful as she maneuvers around every twist fate tosses at her. And she looks gorgeous doing it too.

"Black Book" has the creamy, polished, Technicolor look of a classic Hollywood movie but beneath that surface lurks another film. The Dutch WWII thriller has more surprises in store for its audience than its many plot twists. It turns every assumption about WWII movies upside down.

Director Paul Verhoeven returns to his native Holland for this historically-inspired movie in Dutch, German, Hebrew and English, with English subtitles. The "Black Book" director is better known for Hollywood fare such as "Robocop" and "Basic Instinct." This return to his native Holland is a very different kind of film from those two.

Make no mistake, "Black Book' is highly entertaining as a thriller, but in filmmaking style and appearance, it is a kind of throwback to earlier Hollywood. At least on the surface, it looks like a Hollywood version of history, with highly polished production values and melodrama.

Those, however, who chose to peek beneath the surface, rather than just enjoy the ride, will find that the old-fashioned style is undercut by breathless action pacing, a surprising amount of sex and violence, and ironic reversals of standard assumptions.

In 1944, young Jewish popular singer Rachel Stein (Carice Van Houten) is in hiding at a farm in the Dutch countryside. Her precarious situation does not keep the irrepressible, fun-loving Rachel from persuading a young Resistance fighter who stops by to check on her to crank up the record player in the barn where she's hiding so they can dance. An Allied bomb puts an end to their impromptu party and destroys her refuge.

Rather than search for a new hiding spot, the event spurs her and her wealthy family to decide the time has come to flee their homeland. To arrange their escape, Rachel turns to family friend and lawyer, Mr. Smaal (Dolf De Vries), who consults his hidden black book where he keeps information about his secret activities on helping Jewish families. But during the escape, things go wrong and Rachel suddenly finds herself in the Dutch underground, driven by a wish to avenge the fate of her family at the hands of the Germans.

Rachel's first mission pairs her with a charming young doctor named Hans Akkermans (Thom Hoffman), but soon afterwards, Dutch Resistance leader Gerben Kuipers (Derek de Lint) sends Rachel to infiltrate the Nazi Dutch headquarters. Her mission is to get close to SS head Ludwig Müntze (Sebastian Koch), in order to help free some Resistance members being held prisoner.

"Black Book" was Holland's official entry for the 2006 Best Foreign Film Oscar, although it is just now opening in this country for its theatrical run. The film opened at Plaza Frontenac Cinema on April 27 as an exclusive engagement.

Although visually and stylistically it sometimes looks like a Technicolor cross between "The Great Escape" and "Casablanca," this racy, violent film is not family fare. There is sex, violence and hints of misogyny in some of the humiliations Verhoeven piles on the film's heroine. While some parts of this tale of the Dutch Resistance were inspired by real events, mostly it is Verhoeven's creation.

"Black Book"is packed with twists and surprises but good guys and bad guys are sometimes harder to tell apart than you might assume. German star Sebastian Koch, who starred as the East German playwright in this year's Best Foreign Film Oscar winner "The Lives Of Others," turns in a fine performance as Muntze.

However, it is Carice Van Houten as Rachel who captures the eye and the heart of the viewer. Talented Carice Van Houten lights up the screen. Transforming herself from a girlish, giggly dark-haired slightly pampered princess into a spy who looks like the classic sexy blond bombshell to catch the eye of the Nazi officer, Van Houten's brainy Rachel exploits her beauty for her cause.

More than her outward appearance changes in this transformation, as Rachel reveals a well of inner strength and will to survive, but her heart-shaped, innocent face also melts our hearts and becomes riveting on screen. Van Houten does more than just look good; she is fearless as an actress and you cannot help but root for her resilient character.

There are a number of good supporting roles and unexpected characters in "Black Book." Halina Rejin plays Ronnie, a brassy Dutch woman who befriends Rachel in her blond bombshell role, is an opportunist willing to sleep with whoever can provide the most creature comforts. Ronnie starts out as a tiresome stereotype but develops depth. She is such a true friend to Rachel that we almost forget she's a collaborator. How this character creates unsettling mixed feelings in the audience and turns movie convention on its head is a good example of the hidden complexity of "Black Book."

"Black Book" is likely to be a love it or hate it kind of film. As a rare tale of the Dutch Resistance, it is admirable. Those who get caught up in its fast-paced series of twists and double crosses, whether they notice a cynical undertone or not, are likely to enjoy "Black Book."

On the other hand, its combination of old Hollywood-style melodrama and sleazy prurience will put others off, even if they pick up on the ironic twists. Others may be disturbed by its cynical undertones. But like it or hate it, the breathless thriller "Black Book" is anything but bland.