Strong and Moving!

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

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.

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!!! ____________________________________________________________________

I have seen this movies so many times that the subtitling has become irrelevant. Smarty movie with worldwide appeal. A growing up MD is subconciously living a life that has been dramatically changed by an incident during the WWII. such powerful characters. I walk out the movuie stunned at the way the movie works for me. go and see it for yourself

I saw this movie in school for an asignment and I was suprised by the fact that this was a Dutch movie. This is one of those movies wich can stand the test of time. A involving story is told about Anton Steenwijk who we will follow through out this film. A must see film that tells the story of a typical dutch family in war time.