The Forgotten Battle
The Dutch Resistance reaches the screen in a fine depiction of a lesser-known World War II conflict.
Gijs Blom
Hitherto there have been films made about the major battles in World War II. These include the Battle of Britain, the Battle of Midway, Pearl Harbour, the French Resistance, Stalingrad, the D-Day landings and Dunkirk, to name but a few. However, the Dutch Battle of the Scheidt has, as far as we know, never been dramatised for the cinema. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr's The Forgotten Battle appears to be the first attempt to cover this particular aspect of World War II. The filmmaker is a Dutch writer, producer and director, so obviously has a special interest in the subject, the setting for which is German-occupied Zeeland, one of the provinces of the Netherlands.
This particular battle occurred after the Normandy landings in 1944. The film covers the war action during Operation Market Garden in which British soldiers were involved along with the Canadian army as they crossed the Belgian border into German-occupied Holland. However, the film also throws light on some more personal stories of individuals involved in the events, namely Marinus, a Dutch Axis soldier, William Sinclair, a British pilot, and Teuntje Visser, a young Dutch woman helping her brother Dirk in the Dutch Resistance movement. Their father, Jan Visser, is a doctor who works for both sides, the enemy as well as his own people. Unfortunately, his son Dirk becomes embroiled with a passing German convoy, causing a tragic incident for which he is arrested and tortured. His father and his sister try to free him by offering an apology but the German Commandant is not easily swayed. even though he admires the doctor for attending to his own injuries.
Dirk, an avid photographer, had been recording details of the German defence positions by the River Scheidt. After Dirk's arrest Teuntje, along with her friend Janna, another Resistance worker, decides to try and get the covert photographs to the Allied Armies' positions as they advance on the island of Walcheren where another battle ensues. The way that Teuntje goes about her difficult task makes a gripping episode in the life of this brave young woman.
This is a very moving and subtle portrayal of the war against the onslaught of the German army. It is never sensational or gung-ho about the efforts of the soldiery or the civilians as they do their utmost to save their own lives and those of their fellow countrymen and women. It appears to be a thoroughly credible account of, if not a totally forgotten battle, a war of nerves that had hitherto never been dramatised. Apart from the excellent action sequences and in particular the air raids which are filmed with documentary credibility, the personal story of Teuntje and Dirk produce some fine acting from those involved. Susan Radder as Teuntje gives a strong performance that exhibits the toughness of her character as well as the obvious fears the girl has about her family. Ronald Kalter as Dirk is both reckless and heroic in his fight against the encroaching enemy. As their father Jan Bijvoet tries to be all things to all sides, working for the Germans but also concerned about his own family. Elsewhere there are other fine performances emerging from this epic production, including Jamie Flatters as William Sinclair, Gijs Blom as Marinus and Marthe Schneider as Janna.
Other aspects also impress, such as Lennert Hillege's cinematography in which for much of the time the film appears to be in monochrome with just occasional muted flashes of colour. This adds a definite realism to the project, while the overall concept and the direction by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr is impeccable.
Original title: Die Slag om de Scheldel.
MICHAEL DARVELL
Cast: Gijs Blom, Jamie Flatters, Susan Radder, Jan Bijvoet, Tom Felton, Coen Bril, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Scott Reid, Marthe Schneider, Ronald Kalter, Hajo Bruins.
Dir Matthijs van Heijningen Jr, Pro Alain de Levita and Paula van der Oest, Screenplay Paula van der Oest, from a story by Paula van der Oest and Jesse Maiman, with co-writers Pauline van Mantgem, Reinier Smit and Matthijs van Heijningen Jr, Ph Lennert Hillege, Pro Des Hubert Pouille, Ed Marc Bechtold, Music Emile Levienaise-Farrouch, Costumes Margriet Procee.
Levitate Film/Caviar Films/Evangelische Omroep (EO)-September Films/Netflix.
123 mins. Netherlands. 2020. Rel: 15 October 2021. Available on Netflix. Cert 15 .