The film was directed by Paul Verhoeven(Image: Tuschinski Film Distribution)
The highly praised Dutch film Soldier of Orange (Soldaat van Oranje), often regarded as the finest war film ever produced, is now accessible for streaming on Amazon Prime.
This riveting World War II drama, directed by renowned filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, boasts a remarkable 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and continues to enthrall viewers decades after its 1977 debut.
Based on Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema’s autobiographical book, Soldier of Orange chronicles the lives of a group of university students irrevocably altered by the German occupation of the Netherlands. The movie delivers a potent, personal depiction of bravery, treachery, and sacrifice during one of history’s bleakest periods.
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Featuring Rutger Hauer as Erik Lanshof and Jeroen Krabbé as his friend Guus LeJeune, the film’s intricately woven story unfolds against the backdrop of war-ravaged Leiden and London.
The film was directed by Paul Verhoeven(Image: Tuschinski Film Distribution)
Its narrative encapsulates everything from clandestine radio broadcasts and daring getaways to intense interrogations and devastating personal losses.
At the time of its premiere, the film was the priciest Dutch production ever made, with a budget of 5 million guilders (approximately £1.95 million). It swiftly became the nation’s most beloved film of 1977, attracting over 1.5 million spectators, reports the Express.
The film received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980 and won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Film in 1979.
The film also secured second place as the greatest Dutch movie of the 20th century at the Netherlands Film Festival in 1999, beaten only by Verhoeven’s other masterpiece, Turkish Delight.
The acclaimed picture even sparked a breathtaking stage musical, which premiered in 2010 at a specially converted hangar in the Netherlands and has since toured globally, including performances in London.
One fan penned in an IMDb review: “I just watched Soldaat Van Oranje, and I’m absolutely fascinated. It’s a typical war flick in many senses, but it’s probably one of the best ever made, if not THE ONE. My heartfelt thanks and congratulations go to the entire crew who made this masterpiece.
‘Flawless’
“The acting, camera work, screenplay, all flawless. Especially Rutger Hauger shines starting with the first breath. Unless he actually experienced all this stuff and reincarnated afterwards to make this movie, his was the BEST ACTING I’VE EVER SEEN! ! !”.
“The rest of the cast is also fabulous. I usually try to mention the slightest flaw in a movie when I write a comment on here, no matter how much I liked it. But this time, I won’t be able to, because this movie simply has no flaw at all. It’s perfect, marvellous, stunning, and any other adjective that addresses perfection!”.
Another enthusiast declared it was “arguably” the “best war movie ever.” A different reviewer who rated it a flawless 10/10 believes it is “simply the best Dutch movie ever made.”
A fan on Rotten Tomatoes raved: “It is a masterpiece co-directed by the main character himself. It takes you through an era where without warning an entire country is occupied by night.”