THE FORGOTTEN BATTLE
Belgium/Netherlands, 2020, 124 minutes, Colour.
Gijs Blom, Jamie Flatters, Susan Radder, Jan Bijvoet, Tom Felton, Marthe Schneider, Ronald Kalter.
Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
The Forgotten Battle and Wil can be considered companion films, dramas of World War II taking place in the Netherlands, a focus on the city of Antwerp.
Dramas of World War II continue to be made, quite a vast number of films, ranging over the world. There have not been so many dramas of the Netherlands – there was a surprising film, Betrayed, 1954, with Clark Gable, Victor Mature and Lana Turner, alerting audiences to the war in that part of Europe.
The forgotten battle is that of the river Schelde, late in 1944. The film focuses on the German occupation of the Belgian town, a small underground group, young man taking photos of the Germans, and intentionally causing an accident with the death German soldiers, his arrest, torture, giving information. He is the son of a local doctor. His sister is concerned, close to members of the resistance, offering to take key map to the Canadians who are attacking the Germans, her being captured, her friend, wounded, floating on the boat and discovered by the Canadians. There is a grim battle sequence with the Canadians attacking, many wounded and dead. Then, with the aid of the map and strategy, there is the counter-attack.
Brought into the action of the British, a group of glider pilots, grounded near the village, encountering that is, one escaping and pointing the Canadians in their attack.
War scenes of staged, the audience gets a sense of the German occupation and harshness, and, with one Dutch soldier who had enlisted in the German army, a growing sense of disillusionment, is having to participate in the shooting of the hostages, his participation in the attack.
On the other hand, Wil takes place in 1942, a Belgian town occupied by the Germans, in full control, some of the collaborators in the town, the focus on young police, locals, the strength of their local command and his warnings to the observant, especially in his taught sequence.
Two young policeman are asked to accompany a German to arrest a Jewish family. There is some resistance, the German is killed and his body concealed in a drain. There are consequences for the two, very young, connections with the Resistance, codenames, meetings with the leader, veteran actor Jan Decleir, arrests and torture. They also help the Jewish family to be hidden, and a train journey, being captured.
The dilemma of story is, remembering the Stockholm Syndrome, how much occupied people can identify with the occupiers, moral issues, life and death, silence, support.
The film is ominous, challenging moral stances.
- The title, the focus, and its significance for ousting the German occupation of north-western Europe?
- And setting, the Balkan town, occupied, streets, offices, Gestapo headquarters, homes, shops? The local countryside, the water? The German fort? The Canadian headquarters, the attack? The musical score?
- Action in England, the glider pilot, their training, manoeuvres and turning, personalities, friendship, into the war, the speeches, William and his father, the authorities? The flight to Europe, being downed, the group, the wounded leader, carrying him, in the boat, the shelter in the house, decisions, the confrontation with the Germans, the death of the leader, William and his shooting? His escape, his partner reluctant? Joining the Canadians, bonding with them, with Bill, participation in the attack, the aftermath, the assault on the Germans?
- Marina is, Dutch, winning the Germans, the training, being wounded, hospital care, the German officer, no legs, disillusionment, supporting Marina’s, killing himself? Marina is transferred to the town, the desk job, relationship with the commander, his observations, touches of disillusionment, the pang orders, his warning Teun to her brother and the torture, St battle, shooting the hostages and his it, the machine gun fire, the retreat, defending Teun, his being wounded, her tending to him, his death?
- Dirk, 17, it is, throwing the stone, and the windscreen, the killing of the Germans? Some of the doctor, the two Tuen, arrested, his father pleading against the death multi-, imprisoned, tortured, giving information, the arrest of the resistance, in the truck, his father being him leave, shot?
- Tuen, her work in the office, up with a view to the Germans leaving, destroying documents, her friend Jana, the resistance? The issue of Dirk’s photos, strategic value, discussions with Janet, opening her brother’s release, giving them after his death? The response of the resistance, the explanation of the strategy for the Canadians? The situation to get access for British ships to Antwerp Harper?
- The request for the map, Tuen taking them, the wounded resistance leader, the appeal to the women, Chewing her green, going with Janet, under cover of dark, the boat, Janet wounded, but with the maps, floating away, due and being captured, held?
- The Canadians finding the boat, the maps, the plan to strategy?
- Success against the Germans, the retreat, Turin in prison, Marina is helping her, wanting her assailant, his being wounded, attending him? And her moving away with the troops towards liberation?
