Rent The Secret Hero (2012)
3.5 of 5 from 66 ratings
2h 0min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Amsterdam, summer 1942. Walter Süskind (Jeroen Spitzenberger) can count himself lucky that he's found a job with the Jewish Council, which offers him and his family protection from deportation to Germany. One night, Walter witnesses the arrest of a Jewish family. The couple's children Roosje (Madelief Blank) and Simon (Ralph Moerman) manage to escape, but how will they survive in the occupied city? It is Süskind's task to arrange for the Jewish detainees to be sent to work in Germany. However, when he discovers the truth that it is the death camps waiting for his fellow Jews, he decides to double-cross the Germans. As a part of his new plan, he befriends a high-ranking SS officer, Aus der Fünten (Karl Markovics) and also gains the support and cooperation of the underground movement. With other co-conspirators, he devises cunning ways to help save many children from certain death. Many of his own people see him as a Nazi collaborator unaware of the huge risk he faces. The lives of Walter, his wife Hanna (Nyncke Beekhuyzen) and child are now endangered when the SS officer begins to suspect that Walter is not the trustworthy manager he seems to be. The SS officer has become attached to Walter and prefers to believe that Walter is really his friend. However, when his superiors convince him that Süskind is the brains behind this operation, the German officer explodes and feeling betrayed, he plans to take revenge on Süskind and his family. Can Süskind find a way to protect himself, his wife and daughter and escape the wrath of the SS Officer. An incredible true story of courage. - Actors:
- Jeroen Spitzenberger, Karl Markovics, Nyncke Beekhuyzen, Katja Herbers, Golda de Leon, Nasrdin Dchar, Tygo Gernandt, Krijn ter Braak, Olga Zuiderhoek, Chava Voor in 't Holt, Ramsey Nasr, Theo Pont, Erich Krieg, Peter Post, George Remes, Rudolf Lucieer, Rob van de Meeberg, Henk Poort, Ditha van der Linden, Maud Dolsma
- Directors:
- Rudolf van den Berg
- Producers:
- Jeroen Koolbergen, San Fu Maltha, Reinier Selen
- Writers:
- Chris W. Mitchell, Rudolf van den Berg
- Aka:
- The Secret Hero - Suskind - A True Story of Courage from the Holocaust / Süskind
- Studio:
- IMC Vision
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Drama
- Countries:
- Netherlands
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Reviews (1) of The Secret Hero
Interesting if meandering Dutch film about deportation of Dutch Jews in 1943-4. - The Secret Hero review by PV
OK so this film is a little long and meandering, lacks focus at times. However, I can forgive it that as the story it is telling is true and messy and spans several months and years.
It tells the little-known story of Dutch Jews deported to camps. There are still Jewish communities in Amsterdam and other cities however.
The main character is a German Jew who escaped Germany for Holland only for the Germans to invade there on 10 May 1940 to be precise, and Belgium too. Anne Frank';s family were the same - Germans who escaped to Amsterdam, as people did not realise or expect Germany to invade.
Anyway, it s a fascinating if depressing tale. Other camp films such as RESISTANCE, SON OF SAUL, WALKING WITH THE ENEMY - there are so many great Second World War films, from many European countries too. Many countries in WWII had to supply the Nazi machine with slave labour, and Jewish deportations, and local Jewish leaders assisted with this - in a place such as Hungary, very late, in 1944. There is a great film about that whose name I forget.
Perhaps it is a tad too harsh on the Dutch locals. What would you do if a huge monstrous Nazi empire invaded your little country? Remember that the Dutch supported the Allies and went on strike (trains etc) to support the Allies landing on D-Day June 6 1944, and as punishment, Germany cut off food supplies which caused the Dutch famine of 1944-5 in which 20,000 died of starvation. The Dutch call it The Hunger Winter - it affected northern Dutch regions including Amsterdam. 4.5 million people affected.
So 3.5 stars rounded up
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