Der Bankier des Widerstands

So glad this came up in the Netflix recommended section. Anyone interested in modern European history should watch it. Acting and direction throughout was excellent I thought, it really did seem like we were witnessing wartime Amsterdam and all the hopes and fears of the brave people who resisted a brutal foreign occupation. Not for the faint hearted either. The movie gives a very realistic & sometimes graphic account of how a primarily civilian resistance movement not only has to outfox military intelligence, but also the craven collaborators amongst the ranks of their fellow citizens, and the consequences of such acts of heroism.

Foreign viewers will inevitably find it hard to judge the valiant actions of the protagonists in this movie at their true value. Resisting the German occupation of the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation meant risking your life as well as the life of your family, literally. What the protagonists in this move achieved was hugely important even though none of them ever fired a gun. They saved the lives of thousands with their financial machinations. Let credit be with those bankers who earned it... there are plenty who did not...

This movie is not bad at all but it is very disappointing to see a good story with the best actors the Dutch have to offer, is downgraded by poor editing and scripting.

The story is solid. It's small, heroic and smart. In the movie the story is not kept simple enough. I believe it's hard to follow sometimes. It leaves to many question-marks in the start of the movie. At first I thought the bankers where guarding/saving the money of Jews which where put on transport so that they could safely get it back after the war. Then I understood the bankers where raising and loaning money to fund the resistance. The way they do this is smart but the audience is puzzled because it's not explained good enough in the movie. Eventually it becomes clear that the movie is not about the way they do it... but about the risk they take doing it.

The acting is great and the look and feel of the movie is so convincing that you really feel in Amsterdam of the 1940's. The shining wooden doors and table's, the buildings, streets, the snow and the props used are great.

The pace of the movie is a bit too quick if you ask me. Editing is messy sometimes and this has a negative affect on the tention build-up. Especially in the midsection of the movie where there is a great swapping trick.

The movie certainly is worth watching because it's beautifully filmed, casted and the story is strong.

In spite of huge interest in films/ documentaries that are build on sub-plots from WW2, I have watched very few in languages other than English. But Netflix was constantly reminding me about their recent addition so I finally gave it a go. And I am glad that I did. It is a serious film with very few light moments and that works quite well given the plot. Also without the background noise, so the movie speaks softly just like the bankers' mission. Understated but remarkable performances by many of the lead characters, particularly by Atsma and Derwig as the van Hall brothers. Best for the Oscars!

Hey folks,

As an American and unable to speak any language other than English, I rarely watch any foreign films. The story itself did seem interesting, and when I found the film on Netflix was in English and included subtitles, I thought I would at least give it ten minutes or so to see if I would find it worth watching.

While I knew none of the actors or others who produced this film, I did find the story to be quite captivating even though I did not understand the banking mechanics involved in financing the resistance. The acting was very good in my opinion, and I found I was able to navigate the story well enough with the English speech and subtitles.

If one is expecting an action-adventure film, one would be better off skipping this film. On the other hand, if one can appreciate a well paced film that tells a very good story, then this film does that quite well. I have always loved a good story.

Best wishes, Dave Wile