Voor een verloren soldaat
Encyclopedia
For a Lost Soldier is a 1992 Dutch film
based upon the autobiographical novel
of the same title by ballet dancer and choreographer Rudi van Dantzig
. It deals with the romantic / sexual relationship between a 12-year-old boy (Dantzig
) and a Canadian
soldier during the final months leading up to the liberation of the Netherlands
from Nazi occupation during World War II
.
) reminisces about the time in 1944 when he (Maarten Smit) and other boys were sent to the countryside by their parents to escape the war. The city suffers from food shortages, with more food available in the country. He stays with an eel
fisher's family, but despite the abundance of food, he is plagued by homesickness.
Things change when the village is liberated by Canadian
troops. Jeroen meets Walt Cook (Andrew Kelley), a Canadian soldier in his early 20s, who befriends him. Jeroen revels in the attention the soldier showers on him, and eventually their relationship becomes sexual. His foster parents are aware of the closeness between Jeroen and the soldier, but it is unclear in the film whether they are aware of the sexual nature of the relationship.
After a few more days, Walt's troop are ordered to move and Walt leaves without saying goodbye to Jeroen. Jeroen is heartbroken, having only a photo to remind him of the soldier. After the war is over, he returns to his family back in Amsterdam
, where he decides to go to America
later in his life.
The film ends with grown-up Jeroen affectionately recalling the story and trying to express it as a ballet
dance. While rehearsing the dance, his assistant hands him an envelope. He opens the envelope to find an enlargement of the only photo of him and the foster family and also a further enlargement of the soldier's dog tag with his identification. He realizes that he can now find his lost soldier after all this time.
In the novel, Walt's name is Walter P. Narbutus.
Cinema of the Netherlands
Because the Dutch film industry is relatively small, and there is little or no international market for Dutch films, almost all films rely on state funding. This funding can be achieved through several sources, for instance through the Dutch Film Fund or the Dutch public broadcast networks...
based upon the autobiographical novel
Autobiographical novel
An autobiographical novel is a form of novel using autofiction techniques, or the merging of autobiographical and fiction elements. The literary technique is distinguished from an autobiography or memoir by the stipulation of being fiction...
of the same title by ballet dancer and choreographer Rudi van Dantzig
Rudi van Dantzig
Rudi van Dantzig , is a Dutch choreographer, ballet dancer and writer. Since 1965 he has been co-artistic leader of Het Nationale Ballet . After Sonia Gaskell and his other colleague left in 1971, he was the only artistic leader until 1991...
. It deals with the romantic / sexual relationship between a 12-year-old boy (Dantzig
Dantzig
- People :* Tobias Dantzig , mathematician from Latvia, father of George Dantzig* George Dantzig , American mathematician who introduced the simplex algorithm* David van Dantzig , Dutch mathematician...
) and a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
soldier during the final months leading up to the liberation of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
from Nazi occupation during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Plot summary
Jeroen (Jeroen KrabbéJeroen Krabbé
Jeroen Aart Krabbé is a Dutch actor and film director who has appeared in many Dutch and international films.-Biography:...
) reminisces about the time in 1944 when he (Maarten Smit) and other boys were sent to the countryside by their parents to escape the war. The city suffers from food shortages, with more food available in the country. He stays with an eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
fisher's family, but despite the abundance of food, he is plagued by homesickness.
Things change when the village is liberated by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
troops. Jeroen meets Walt Cook (Andrew Kelley), a Canadian soldier in his early 20s, who befriends him. Jeroen revels in the attention the soldier showers on him, and eventually their relationship becomes sexual. His foster parents are aware of the closeness between Jeroen and the soldier, but it is unclear in the film whether they are aware of the sexual nature of the relationship.
After a few more days, Walt's troop are ordered to move and Walt leaves without saying goodbye to Jeroen. Jeroen is heartbroken, having only a photo to remind him of the soldier. After the war is over, he returns to his family back in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where he decides to go to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
later in his life.
The film ends with grown-up Jeroen affectionately recalling the story and trying to express it as a ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dance. While rehearsing the dance, his assistant hands him an envelope. He opens the envelope to find an enlargement of the only photo of him and the foster family and also a further enlargement of the soldier's dog tag with his identification. He realizes that he can now find his lost soldier after all this time.
In the novel, Walt's name is Walter P. Narbutus.
Cast
- Maarten Smit ... Jeroen Boman
- Jeroen KrabbéJeroen KrabbéJeroen Aart Krabbé is a Dutch actor and film director who has appeared in many Dutch and international films.-Biography:...
... Jeroen Boman (adult) - Andrew Kelley ... Walt Cook
- Freark Smink ... Hait
- Elsje de Wijn ... Mem
- Derk-Jan Kroon ... Jan
- Wiendelt Hooijer ... Henk
- Iris Misset ... Bonden
- Gineke de Jager ... Elly
- Tatum Dagelet ... Gertie
- Marie-José Kouwenhoven ... Renske
- Valerie Valentine ... Laura
- William SuttonWilliam SuttonWilliam Sutton VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
... Chuck - Andrew Butling ... Buikspreker
- Andrew Cassani ... Winslow
Film Rating
- The film is rated R18 in New Zealand.
External links
- 1993 New York Times Review http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CEEDD1F3DF934A35756C0A965958260