10 Great World War II Movies You've Probably Never Seen

Like Scandinavia, the Netherlands’ contribution to World War II is also quite under-documented. The only subject matter typically found on the shelves of bookshops pertains to Arnhem, the site of the ‘Bridge Too Far’ that was the Allies’ third target during Operation Market Garden. Immortalised in Richard Attenborough’s star-studded adaptation of Cornelius Ryan’s book of the same, it was an unsuccessful operation that left much of the country under continued occupation and subject to a devastating winter famine.

The Dutch resistance was widespread but disorganised and their exploits were part of Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book. Returning to his native country after two decades in Hollywood (during which he made the likes of Robocop, Total Recall and the infamously terrible Showgirls), he crafted a film that was part suspense and part romance, depicting a Jewish Dutchwoman in her efforts to conceal her identity, support the resistance effort and pursue a relationship with an occupying Nazi leader, who is indifferent to the ideals preached by his party and subordinates.

It crams a lot into its runtime, which accelerates at a rapid pace given the various plot threads. Tragic and triumphant in equal measure, it was a return to form for Verhoeven after a decade in the doldrums and career-boosting for Carice Van Houten, who went on to be one of the stars of HBO’s Game of Thrones (playing Melisandre).

With so few films depicting Holland’s struggle, one that does it so well is worthy of checking out.