resistance

De overval

War film about a raid on a prison in Leeuwarden in 1944.

On December 8 1944, a number of Frisian resistance fighters raided a prison in Leeuwarden and, without loss of blood, freed dozens of prisoners, among them several leaders of the Leeuwarden resistance and a police inspector. For some of the prisoners, severely weakened by torture, the raid came just in time. De overval paints a sober and unromantic picture of this heroic deed.

LO - LKP

Partly fictionalised story of a Dutch resistance fighter who is caught and executed by the Germans.

A metal worker goes to ground because he doesn’t want to collaborate with the Germans. He joins the resistance movement and, after being wounded during a raid, he ends up in hospital. He escapes but is arrested not long after and taken to a concentration camp. He is executed in September 1944, just weeks before the Allied forces reach the camp.

Bezet gebied

Dramatised documentary about the Dutch resistance during the Second World War.

The German forces have occupied the Netherlands. In spite of promises to respect their way of life, the Dutch are forced to obey the Germans at every turn. The resistance movement begins to organise acts of sabotage such as stealing ration cards and distributing illegal newspapers. The German retaliate without mercy: some resistance fighters are shot, others face arrest. During a daring raid on the prison they are freed.

Samen op weg

Commissioned by the Nederlands Volksherstel about the Resistance during the Second World War and the solidarity that is needed for the reconstruction of the Netherlands.

Samen op weg is a partially staged documentary about the German occupation of the Netherlands – about the resistance movement and the hardships people faced during the war. Furthermore the film makes an appeal for the people of the Netherlands to work together to rebuild their devastated country. The film ends with a portrait of Queen Wilhelmina.

Als twee druppels water

War film based on W.F. Hermans’ De donkere kamer van Damocles, in which a young man meets his double.

Writer W.F. Hermans and director Fons Rademakers shared a fascination with people’s behaviour during the Second World War. The story explores the boundaries between good and bad in wartime.