Belgian Director Roskam Dramatizes WWII Resistance’s Bold Newspaper Hoax

Belgian filmmaker Michaël R. Roskam has turned a little-known wartime stunt into a gripping thriller. “Le Faux Soir” tells the story of resistance fighters who pulled off an audacious media hack during World War II creating and distributing a fake edition of a Nazi-controlled Belgian newspaper to spread anti-propaganda messages.

During the German occupation of Belgium, a group of resistance members executed what may be the war’s most unusual act of defiance: they forged an entire edition of “Le Soir,” a major newspaper operating under Nazi control. The fake paper used humor and parody to mock German propaganda and boost morale among the occupied population.

It was a dangerous gambit. Publishing the counterfeit edition in 1943 required meticulous planning, iron nerves, and willingness to risk everything. The resistance members had to navigate constant surveillance while distributing their message without getting caught.

Roskam, who previously directed “Bullhead” and “The Drop,” frames the operation as a period thriller that balances political satire with nail-biting tension. He zeroes in on the people behind the scheme and the real stakes they faced showing how a simple act of printing could become a life-threatening mission.

The film explores a central theme: that information and words can be just as powerful as weapons when wielded against an authoritarian regime. Under a government built on censorship and fear, a well-crafted joke in print becomes an act of rebellion.

Arieh Worthalter leads the ensemble as Marc Aubrion, a journalist central to creating the fake newspaper. He’s joined by Mélanie Thierry, Karim Leklou, Bouli Lanners, François Damiens, and a supporting cast of Belgian and French performers who bring the resistance network to life.

“Le Faux Soir” is making waves on the international festival circuit. The film was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival and will serve as the closing feature at Spain’s San Sebastián Film Festival this year.

With its historical significance, timely themes about media manipulation, and ensemble cast, Roskam’s film offers audiences a fresh look at how ordinary people used unconventional weapons ink, paper, and wit to challenge Nazi occupation. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most dangerous resistance comes not from guns, but from the printed word.