I think this is really a good movie, especially for dutch understandings. You have to know, that when a dutch movie is called bad, it is really bad. My father saw the last time this movie about 30 years this film ago, and it is very interesting to see how well he remembers some of the conversations.
It is even based on a true story of the second world war. In `the silent raid' the activities of the KP (knokploegen), roughly translated ` strong-arm squads', are the main theme. The movie begins when inspector Bakker is caught by the occupiers. The KP tries to get him back by attacking the car in which the Germans bring him to prison. The attack fails and as a result the Germans take revenge by shooting 6 persons in the prison `house of confinement'. Inspector Bakker is being questioned by Grundmann but he does not say anything. The Germans torture him for that. Some time later Bakker tells to Doctor Wartena that he knows 30 names and addresses of people who work in the resistance, and where the KP's hides the weapons. With much help from Eppie, Wim and Mies the leader, Piet Kramer tries to work out a plan, of helping Bakker out of prison. Eppie knows very much of Leeuwarden and its people tries to get some support from Jellema, a friendly man, who blames himself for working in the prison, but who is in fact in the right place at the right time. In the meantime, inspector Bakker tries to protect his friends with the help of doctor of the prison, a person who until that moment was not involved with the fight against the germans. Eventually the KP works out a plan in which they try not to shoot with their guns, because in a building straight ahead the prison day and night german soldiers are located, and they will hear even 1 shot from there. Kramer and his men succeed in to take about 50 people from the prison. A tabloid in the high wall of the prison commemorates this event.
An interesting consequence of the film is that we can get a nice picture of the city of Leeuwarden, a city of about 75000 people, and also the main city of the . I don't live far from Leeuwarden and I'm also very interested in geography, and I therefore took the opportunity to visit the vicinity of the prison. Indeed the prison is straight ahead a building with a distance of only about 30 metres (across water), and where 24 hours a day armed Germans were located.
What I also liked was the diversity of the characters. I liked for instance Piet for his energy and wisdom, inspector Bakker for his somber intelligence, Wim for his impetuousness. Many characters are not difficult to relate to, they have fears, are hard-working and have integrity. The actors did a wonderful job I can't even think of one actor who does not act well, but I am no judge of that.
Strong aspects of this movie are: solidarity, thrust, friendship. And there is even a sarcastic sense of humour. Indeed, I know very little movies where the emphasis laid on solidarity is so strong, and that's great, because solidarity is not as good nowadays as it had been before. Matter-of-factness is also a strong aspect, that's also a strong characteristic of the Netherlands, maybe the north of it especially.
There are much nice scenes in this movie. Some of my favourite are when Piet talks to his men in the bakery, when Bakker is in the office of Grundmann, and when Wim and Piet stand in front of the prison door, and when Jelle is putting his gun on the head of Koopman and seems to enjoy this. Koopman is a Dutch man supporting the Germans.
I had several questions after seeing this film, but it does not matter anymore, because when I took some books from the library, I learned much out of them and had a nice time. Many events actually took place during the movie, and the characterization of the persons were very much like real life. This was partly possible because many members of the KP were still alive during the making of the movie, and have helped the producers. The greatest thing I learned was that the germans did not punish Friesland in any way for the silent raid. The germans admired Piet and his group of 24 men, and were pleased by their correct conduct.
I hope everyone will get the chance of seeing this movie.
