SPC pages pricey 'Black Book'

Several distribs were reportedly after Verhoeven pic

By STEVEN ZEITCHIK

Paul Verhoeven's WWII drama 'Black Book' goes to Sony Pictures Classics.

The most sought-after movie of Toronto appeared to have found a buyer late Wednesday: Sony Pictures Classics has essentially agreed to a deal to buy Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book."

Price is reported to possibly be as high as seven figures.

Several distribs were reportedly after the film, with bids a subject of fierce speculation at the fest.

ContentFilm was selling rights; Fu Works produced the Dutch pic.

Sony Pictures Classics declined to comment on a sale.

Verhoeven's WWII espionage pic, told mostly in German and Dutch, went over like gangbusters at last Wednesday's Gala premiere after an industry screening earlier in the week had already set tongues wagging.

Movie marks Verhoeven's return to his native Netherlands after a number of Hollywood flops and also brings him back to subject he mined in his acclaimed 1977 WWII pic "Soldier of Orange."

Sony Pictures Classics is also regarded as adept at releasing foreign-language pics.

Film is the official Netherlands submission for the foreign-language Oscars.