Soldier Of Orange
(1978)
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A gripping World War II tale about the Nazi invasion of Holland and its effects upon six wealthy, boisterous college students, SOLDIER OF ORANGE brought director Paul Verhoeven international acclaim. The film focuses on two of the friends, Erik and Gus. Erik escapes to England, and (against his inclinations), joins a resistance group, and eventually becomes an assistant to the Dutch Queen. Gus, too, leaves Holland and joins a resistance group, but when he murders his friend Bobby -- who has become a Nazi spy -- the Germans exact an unkind revenge upon him. Perhaps the most perplexing of the six men is Jacques, who stays in Holland and continues his studies, unimpeded and uncaring about the war and the Nazi takeover. Based on the true story of Erik Hazelhoff. |
Paul Verhoeven's lavish, personal war epic re-creates the Nazi invasion of his native Holland and shows the effects that has on six university students, all but one of whom become involved in the Resistance. Known for his graphic depiction of sex and violence, Verhoeven's approach here is more traditional — in fact this war movie resembles 1960s epics such as Is Paris Burning? — and boasts two splendid leading performances from Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbé. Edward Fox appears as the head of British military intelligence and Susan Penhaligon is on hand to give both Hauer and Krabbé a squeeze when they escape to Britain.
Halliwell's Film Guide
Engaging, sprawling war movie about Dutch resistance and collaboration, following the career of a hero and his not always heroic friends.