TheOtherFool Movie based on the famous novel by Harry Mulisch, who also wrote the Discovery of Heaven. In the center is Anton Steenwijk (Derek de Lint), who sees his parents shot and his house burnt after a shooting that killed a collaborator of the German Nazi's in World War II. All his life, Anton is curious about what really happened that night, but when he finds out, will that truly satisfy him? Interesting story, well played and directed by Rademakers (director of 'Als twee druppels water' and 'Max Havelaar'), which won the 'Best foreign language' Oscar back in 1987. And although some viewers won't like the 'coincidental' ending, it's probably one of the best pictures ever to have come from this country... 7/10.

Gavno WARNING - SPOILERS WITHIN!!!I first became familiar with THE ASSAULT through the Book of the Month Club. In the package with my book was a slim paperback volume that I hadn't ordered... I suppose they were clearing out the warehouse, and a copy of THE ASSAULT got tossed into my order as a freebie.It sat around ignored for a few months, and then one afternoon I got bored and needed something to read.Wow. Straight through in one sitting.Some time later, with no advertising or promotion of any kind, THE ASSAULT showed up in a local theater.Because of the total lack of promotion, this film is probably the greatest "sleeper" of the decade. It probably only played in the US at Art houses and a very small number of other theaters. Anyone who has encountered the work of Satre or Camus will find themselves right at home with this film. It's deep, involved, and engrossing... it shows that no one, no matter how close they are to an event, knows EVERYTHING about it.Young Anton Steenwjik is the sole survivor of the brutal murder of his entire family by German troops, and the burning of his home in Occupied Holland. The troops did it as retribution for a killing of a collaborator carried out by the local Dutch Underground Resistance cell in front of the Steenwjik home. Anton was there and he saw it all... but it takes a 20 year odyssey that stretches across most of Northern Europe for him to learn the WHOLE truth about that night and it's horrendous events. Therein lies the tale. And it's a tale that's well worth watching.Even tho I promised spoilers in this, I will NOT give you the BIG one... the most unexpected and ironic "Gotcha" I've ever seen in a movie.A VERY HIGHLY recommended film! If you get the chance, SEE IT!_________________________________________________________________I'm updating my comments after the fact.I recently saw the videotape version of the movie, and found myself somewhat disappointed... nay, OUTRAGED... by it.In an attempt to trim the film to fit on standard length tape stock I suppose, the VHS videotape version makes a cut which for me is FATAL... they cut the entire end of Anton's chance meeting with Fake Ploog's son. That 30 second or so edit completely changes the feeling and meaning of the entire sequence, completely destroying the delicate balance that the director put into the theatrical release version.If anyone reads this who is involved with a possible future DVD release of THE ASSAULT... I beg of you... PLEASE... NO EDITING!!!This film is carefully put together like a fine watch. If you remove ANYTHING, it's not going to work right!!! ____________________________________________________________________

Boba_Fett1138 The Dutch are not great at making movies but when they make a WW II movie it often is a little masterpiece. "De Aanslag" is a movie like this."De Aanslag" isn't necessarily about WW II but more about the effects of it on a persons life and why things happen the way they do and how little things can effect a persons life for ever. Most of the movie's story is set in the years after WW II and uses flashbacks of things that happened in WW II to make more things clear and to show things from a different perspective from different individuals that were involved in the incident were the movie is about. It becomes more and more clear what happened at the night that collaborator Ploeg was killed but the Dutch resistance and more importantly why things happened the way it happened. The story also shows a detailed view of the Netherlands and their citizens the years and decades after WW II and how it still affected many.There are many great returning characters in the story and the acting is for especially Dutch standards pretty high. Derek de Lint who now is better know world wide for his role as Derek Rayne in "Poltergeist: The Legacy" is a great leading man that really carries the movie.The cinematography from Theo van de Sande who later did the cinematography for the movie hit "Blade" is great and sets a nice mood. The directing by Fons Rademakers is done wonderfully and it never makes the movie hard to follow even though at times it gets a bit complicated.Great Dutch Oscar winning drama with some memorable moments and a fantastic ending were everything comes together and gets clear.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

steenvreter29 One of the highlights of Dutch cinema. A very moving story about a young boy whose parents are murdered by Germans after a German officer had been shot in front of their house. Actually, the man (Ploeg) was shot in front of the neighbours' house, but was moved by the neighbours so they would survive themselves.It's not just the well-told story that is impressing about this movie. It is also the lot of symbolical themes that gives 'De Aanslag' more strength. Like the man who killed Ploeg makes clear, later on in the movie: 'we could also have shot Ploeg in another neighbourhood, but then I would be talking to someone else right know.' Fate is an important theme. Symbol for fate: dice, returning several times during the movie.A well-known source of criticism about this movie is the lot of coincidences in the movie. I will not argue about whether or not it is realistic, because it is simply not. But.. who cares? It's just a way to tell the story.About as good as Harry Mulisch' novel this movie is based on. 8 stars out of ten.