Rent Soldier of Orange (1977)

A different angle - Soldier of Orange review by CP Customer

This was a very different film for the average war-film enthusiast. It shows quite another take on the liberal society which is Holland and is very convincing in its depiction of the way individuals can slip so easily in the required way of thinking, i.e anti-semitic, anti-gay. The acting is superbly under played and is a refreshing change from the gung-ho or sentimental which prevails films of violence today. The portrayal of the British in this Dutch language film was interesting and very realistic. Needless to say the direction and filmscript were superb.

Interesting Dutch War Drama - Soldier of Orange review by GI

A powerful and gripping Second World War drama and one of the best films about resistance fighters. It's based on a true story and memoir although the names have been changed and some characters condensed. It's also one of director Paul Verhoeven's more interesting Dutch films and if you only know his work from his famous USA made films like Robocop (1987) and Total Recall (1990) then this will be a real treat. Set in Holland the story follows a group of university friends who find their education cut short as the Germans invade. Each of them gets mixed up in different ways with the resistance until, as the war progresses, some of them escape to England for training and are then sent back on covert missions. The story mostly follows Erik (Rutger Hauer), who is at first reluctant to get involved believing the war will end quickly but as friends are killed he soon becomes embroiled in the conflict until he finally gets to England. The film is a gritty and realistic story with some splashes of violence but there's also love and above all friendship. This is the main theme of the film as it's a story of loyalty and honour and shows how close friends were forced to take different paths during the war. Susan Penhaligon and Edward Fox have supporting roles in what is a first class war film that you should check out if you've never seen this.

No Verdicts, Just Consequences - Soldier of Orange review by griggs

The obvious draw here is early Verhoeven — watching him years before Hollywood let him turn the volume up to eleven — but Soldier of Orange earns its place on its own terms.

Erik and his university mates start out lounging around with the swagger of lads who think occupation is just term time with better stories attached. Then the Nazis turn up, and the group splinters across every response going: collaboration, active resistance, quiet defiance, plain bad luck. Robby's the one that sticks with me — he collaborates, but only to keep his Jewish girlfriend Esther safe, and it's that choice that gets the wider group caught. Verhoeven refuses to hand any of them a verdict, and I found that far more interesting than any of the actual set pieces.

Rutger Hauer plays Erik as charming but never quite heroic — self-preservation always seems to be doing the driving. The look of the thing feels stitched into its period rather than dressed up for one, and it asks a fair bit of patience early on, before the stakes land.

A sharp, unsentimental war film.