The Forgotten Battle

A war film about a battle fought in the Netherlands in 1944. The Allies had taken the port of Antwerp but could not use it: German forces held the length of the Scheldt down to the sea. Clearing that corridor was given to the Canadian army and became the largest operation of the war in the Netherlands. That is the battle the film takes up. The narrative follows three people at once: a young Dutchman fighting on the German side, a British pilot who survives a crashed glider, and a young woman in Zeeland who is drawn unwillingly into the resistance. Their paths cross as it goes on. The film's choice is not to build a story of heroism. The Dutch soldier is presented neither as a traitor nor as an innocent; the narrative shows why he put on that uniform and also shows what it costs. It is among the most expensive productions in Dutch cinema; the combat, the flooded islands and the bombardment sequences were mounted on a large scale. Gijs Blom, Jamie Flatters and Susan Radder are in the cast. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. directed. It was released on a streaming service. A solid example for anyone who likes war films and little-known fronts. Before you watch, know this: the film shows civilian casualties and bombardment directly.