All Things Pass (1981) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

The available plot follows a former resistance fighter confronting the unresolved desire for revenge and the possibility of refusing further violence.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Vow After Liberation

After Arie’s death, resistance fighters direct their anger toward Niels and vow revenge. One refuses to surrender his weapon, insisting that the score must be settled.

Key Events

• Arie’s Death — Arie’s death leaves his comrades grieving and angry. Characters: Arie Location: Unspecified
• Revenge Vow — Resistance fighters vow revenge on Niels after Arie’s death. Characters: Arie Location: Unspecified
• Refusal to Surrender a Weapon — One fighter refuses to surrender his weapon, saying the score must be settled. Location: Unspecified

Ben and the Old Promise

Years later, Ab remains haunted by the war and visits gravely ill Ben. They recall their promise to kill Niels, but Ben is too sick to join and soon dies by suicide.

Key Events

• Ab Haunted by the War — Years later, Ab remains troubled by the war and the men who escaped punishment. Location: Unspecified
• Visit to Ben — Ab visits his gravely ill former comrade Ben. Characters: Ben Location: Ben’s residence
• The Old Promise Recalled — Ab and Ben discuss their old promise to kill Niels. Characters: Ben Location: Ben’s residence
• Ben Cannot Join — Ben is too unwell to take part in the proposed action. Characters: Ben Location: Ben’s residence
• Ben’s Death — Ben dies by suicide shortly after Ab visits him. Characters: Ben Location: Unspecified
• Illness Explained — A doctor says Ben had acute leukaemia and feared his final weeks. Characters: Ben Location: Unspecified

Dorien’s Memories

Ab reconnects with Dorien, who describes how the war’s fear and nightmares continued to affect her family. Their conversation recalls Arie and the futures their friends lost.

Key Events

• Ab Reconnects with Dorien — Ab reconnects with Dorien, who recalls the war’s lasting effects on her family. Characters: Dorien Location: Unspecified
• Memories of Arie — Their conversation recalls Arie and the lives their friends might have had. Characters: Dorien, Arie Location: Unspecified

Cees Rejects Revenge

After learning Niels is in the Netherlands, Ab seeks Cees and brings guns, urging him to act before Niels leaves. Cees refuses, explaining that loss changed his view of taking a life and that revenge cannot restore Arie.

Key Events

• Niels Is in the Netherlands — Ab learns that Niels is in the Netherlands and may soon leave. Location: The Netherlands
• Ab Seeks Cees — Ab brings guns and urges Cees to act before Niels leaves. Characters: Cees Location: Unspecified
• Cees Refuses to Kill — Cees initially appears to agree, then refuses to kill anyone. Characters: Cees Location: Unspecified
• Cees Explains His Refusal — Cees says an accident that cost him his wife changed his view of life. Characters: Cees Location: Unspecified
• The Cost of Revenge — Cees argues revenge would mislead the next generation and cannot bring Arie back. Characters: Cees, Arie Location: Unspecified
• Ab Insists on Justice — Ab insists the men who escaped justice should not live peacefully; the outcome remains unknown. Location: Unspecified

Story Breakdown

• Arie’s Death — Arie’s death leaves the resistance fighters grieving and angry.
  • Grief and Anger — The fighters are consumed by anger after Arie’s death.
  • Revenge Vow — They vow to take revenge on Niels.
• Unsettled Past — Years later, the war and escaped punishment continue to trouble Ab.
  • Haunted by War — Ab remains troubled by the war long after liberation.
  • Seeking Comrades — Ab turns to former resistance fighters as he pursues the old promise.
• Ben’s Last Days — Ab visits Ben, who is too ill to join him and soon dies.
  • Old Promise — Ab and Ben discuss their promise to kill Niels.
  • Illness and Fear — A doctor explains Ben’s acute leukaemia and fear of his final weeks.
• Dorien Remembers — A conversation with Dorien brings the war’s lasting effects and Arie’s memory back into focus.
  • Family’s Aftermath — Dorien recalls how war nightmares and fear affected her family.
  • Lost Futures — They remember Arie and the lives their friends might have had.
• Niels in Netherlands — Ab learns Niels is in the Netherlands and urges Cees to act before he leaves.
  • Niels Located — Ab learns of Niels’s presence in the Netherlands.
  • Guns Brought — Ab brings guns when he seeks Cees and presses him to act.
• Cees Rejects Killing — Cees refuses to continue the violence, while Ab insists that escaped enemies should not live peacefully.
  • Changed by Loss — Cees says an accident that cost him his wife changed his understanding of life.
  • Revenge Cannot Restore — Cees argues that killing Niels cannot bring Arie back or teach the next generation the right lesson.

Directed by

Paul Verhoeven

Key Cast

• André van den Heuvel — Ab
• Piet Römer — Wout
• Andrea Domburg — Dorien
• Guus Oster — Ben
• Jan Retèl — Cees