MovieChat Forums > Zwartboek (2007) Discussion > The Ambush in the Cellar

The Ambush in the Cellar

posted 11 years ago by robfwoods
8 replies | jump to latest

Who told Franken about the attempt to free the prisoners in the cellar - young Kuipers, Müntze et al? Akkermans was almost killed there so it couldn't have been him.

It was probably the same person that told him about the microphone in the picture in his office.

It just had to be someone in the Resistance group - but the only one outed in the film is Akkermans and as said above, he was in the cellar raid and he could have easily been one of those killed so it's a far throw to think it could have been him.

But there were no other members of the resistance that the film revealed to be possibles - Smaal was cleared.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

Akkermans and Smaal were working together along with Van Gein to set up the Jews for Franken's death squad. As the Allies were closing in, Akkermans deliberately decides to press for Van Gein's capture, during which attempt he is killed...the faulty chloroform. Towards the end he murders Smaal and his wife to close loose ends, but Ellis gets the Black Book where everything is detailed, including the cellar raid specifics.

[–] robfwoods 11 years ago

Thanks - but still:

WHO told Franken about the attempt to free the prisoners in the cellar?

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

Smaal/Akkermans or a combination thereof.

[–] robfwoods 11 years ago

Akkermans was IN THE CELLAR getting SHOT and almost killed!!!

???

[–] robfwoods 11 years ago

And we know he wasn't the kind to be martyring himself - and Smaal was his buddy and also knew he was there.

So I ask -- WHO told?

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

...he wasn't the kind to be martyring himself...

True! He led the retreat and did get out.
It was a small resistance group on a relatively big operation. He couldn't very well say "I'm not going on this one". My impression is that: a. He had to go to keep up pretences. b A message may have gone through via Smaal to try to avoid shooting him (if possible).

The movie is not 100% clear on this aspect, but I'm really not sure it has to spell every thing out in this case. What I am sure about is that he had to play his part, which may have necessitated killing Germans and him possibly getting shot. I think both he and Franken were comfortable with this considering their operation wasn't approved at the highest levels.

[–] robfwoods 11 years ago

Let's just say we disagree.

AAk went to GREAT lengths at the end to save his own life - almost a 'De Niro Cape Fear.' There would be no logic in him telling on that mission and then going on it. Knowing there would be an ambush by well-armed Germans in close confines - with a dodgy 'one old back door' to try to miraculously escape from - would be just simply committing suicide. That's clearer than Genever - Oude of Jonge!

The real conclusion is that it was a sloppy script - and it is a key part of the end of the story - and not some minor goof one can put on the IMDB Goof section.

[–] dr-kandimba-1 9 years ago

Akkermans was one of the two only resistance fighters who survived and at the end of the movie we realize why. Simple, actually, not a goof in any way. To be clear: the german soldiers had orders not to kill him and let him get away.