THE RESISTANCE BANKER (BANKIER VAN HET VERZET)
(director: Joram Lursen; screenwriters: Marieke van der Pol, Thomas van der Ree, Michael Leendertse, Matthijs Bockting, Pieter van den Berg, Joost Reijmer; cinematographer: Mark van Aller; editor: Peter Alderliesten ; music: Merlijn Snitker; cast: Barry Atsma (Walraven van Hall), Jacob Derwig (Gijs van Hall), Pierre Bokma (Meinoud Rost van Tonningen), Raymond Thiry (Van den Berg), Fockeline Ouwerkerk (Tilly van Hall); Runtime: 123; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Sabine Brian/Alain De Levita/Sytze Van Der Laan; Netflix 2018-Netherlands-in Dutch & German with English subtitles)
“It’s made special by its ability to keep things authentic.“
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A real-life competently made and acted period drama war story based on the life of the Dutch banker Walraven van Hall (Barry Atsma) during the time the Nazis occupied the Netherlands. The courageous Dutch banker defrauded the Nazis of millions, which he then funneled to the Dutch Resistance. The drama is solidly directed by the Dutch TV director Joram Lursen (“Reckless”/”A Noble Intention”). The slow-paced but tense thriller is written by Marieke van der Pol, Thomas van der Ree, Michael Leendertse, Joost Reijmer, Matthijs Bockting and Pieter van den Berg.The 35-year-old family man, Walraven, a former sailor, along with his banker brother (Jacob Derwig) create a shadow bank. Using the guise of a charitable fund to help Dutch sailors stranded abroad by the war to launder money into his shadow bank. When the needs of the resistance increases Wally issues war bonds, which are secretly exchanged for the real bonds at a major bank. They are then redeemed for cash at this same bank. After a slow-moving start it gets gripping when the suspicious Nazis start sniffing around and begin to realize how the Resistance is being funded. It brings back bad bad memories of World War II and of the few who risked everything to do the right thing during such dire times. It’s made special by its ability to keep things authentic.
REVIEWED ON 12/1/2018 GRADE: B+ https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/