The Resistance Banker (Dutch title: Bankier van het Verzet) is a 2018 Dutch historical drama film directed by Joram Lürsen. Based on a true story, the film follows the van Hall brothers as they come up with a risky plan to raise millions of guilders to finance the Dutch resistance during World War II.
Walraven van Hall (played by Barry Atsma) is a successful banker and family man who becomes increasingly frustrated with the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Along with his younger brother Gijsbert (played by Jacob Derwig), who works as a lawyer, Walraven decides to take action and help the resistance.
The brothers’ plan is to set up a secret bank that would receive deposits from wealthy citizens and use the money to finance the resistance. Their operation becomes a huge success, and they are able to raise millions of guilders with the help of a network of trusted friends and associates.
However, their success does not go unnoticed by the Germans, and the van Hall brothers must constantly stay one step ahead of the Gestapo. With the help of fellow resistance fighters, they engage in daring acts of sabotage and smuggling to keep their operation running.
As the war draws to a close, the van Hall brothers’ success comes at a great cost. They are betrayed by a trusted friend, and Walraven is ultimately caught and executed by the Germans. Despite their sacrifices, the Dutch resistance is able to continue fighting until the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945.
The Resistance Banker was critically acclaimed upon its release and was selected as the Dutch entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.