The Assault

Faithful adaptation of Harry Mulisch's novel reconstructs the facts concerning the assault on a Dutch national socialist during World War II, witnessed by twelve-year-old Anton Steenwijk. This led to the execution of his parents and brother. These tragic events are suppressed by Anton, but many years later they take on a new aspect when he discovers the true facts regarding the assault. Until well after the war, the incident keeps haunting Anton's life. De aanslag (The Assault) pictures how the war was experienced, during and after the period. The film won an Oscar for Best Foreign-language Film. (Nederlands Film Festival)