Riphagen

Riphagen (2016) / Pieter Kuijpers. This truly masterful film from the Netherlands traces the true career of one Dries Riphagen, a criminal who enriched himself on the wealth and property of the Jewish population of the Netherlands during World War II while stiffing the Nazi regime of this wealth as he appeared to be collaborating with them. A man of great intelligence, Riphagen can quickly think and talk himself out of any tight spot. Like some of Hitchcock’s villains and anti-heroes, the viewer will begin to admire him in a way that causes even more discomfort above Riphagen’s actions.

The production design and art direction makes their recreation of the Netherland’s 1940s wartime cities to be as authentic as might be possible to do. And the acting, wow, if this film had been made by Hollywood with American actors who gave these performances, all four principals would have very loud Oscar buzz. They include Jeroen van Koningsbrugge who inhabits Riphagen; Lisa Zweerman as his wife Greetje who keeps insisting, “But Dries has done nothing wrong!”; Kay Greidanus as Jan, a Resistance leader working a day job as a policeman, who dedicates his life to bringing Riphagen to justice; and Anna Raadsveld as Betje, a young Jewish women blackmailed by Riphagen into infiltrating and spying on the Resistance. Through many twists, the true story of Dries Riphagen will grip you, make you furious, and put you on the edge of your seat. One of the best films of the year from any country.

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