A single gunshot in 1945 haunts a man for the rest of his life
In short: In the final months of Nazi-occupied Netherlands, a collaborator is killed, triggering a tragic chain reaction that destroys a young boy's family. The Assault, directed by Fons Rademakers, follows Anton Steenwijk across four decades as he reluctantly uncovers the truth behind the night that shattered his world forever.
The narrative begins in January 1945, when a Nazi collaborator is gunned down on a bicycle. The body is moved from its original location to the doorstep of the Steenwijk family home. Mistakenly blamed for the act, the parents and older brother are executed by the occupying forces, who also burn the house to the ground. Anton, the younger brother, is taken into custody, where he spends a brief, formative moment in a dark cell with a woman whose face he cannot see, only her mouth. This traumatic encounter serves as the emotional anchor for the rest of the film.
As the Netherlands is liberated, the story shifts from the immediate aftermath of the war into the 1980s. The film tracks Anton’s life as he matures, portrayed by Marc van Uchelen in his youth and Derek de Lint in adulthood. Throughout these years, Anton remains deeply affected by the events of that night, embarking on a reluctant, lifelong quest to piece together the truth. Monique van de Ven plays dual roles, appearing as both his first wife in the post-war era and the mysterious woman he encountered in the police cell during the war.
The film is an adaptation of the 1982 novel by Harry Mulisch and achieved significant international acclaim. It secured the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1986, alongside the Golden Globe Award in the same category and the Golden Space Needle at the Seattle International Film Festival. By weaving together the personal trauma of a single survivor with the broader historical backdrop of the Nazi occupation, the film explores how the echoes of war continue to resonate long after the fighting has ceased, forcing individuals to confront the uncomfortable realities of their past.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Assault (1986 film)
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