It has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Image: Netflix)
War film fans clearly have strong opinions about this gripping drama, ranking it amongst the finest of the genre alongside celebrated classics such as Saving Private Ryan — yet it remains criminally overlooked and underappreciated.
Released in 2020, the Dutch production, helmed by director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr, recounts the story of the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944, a largely forgotten conflict that rarely features in the history books. It comprised a series of military operations aimed at opening up the Scheldt River to enable shipping between Antwerp and the North Sea.
The Forgotten Battle follows a Dutch Axis soldier, a British glider pilot and a New Zealand resistance woman, all caught up in the military campaign. The narrative skilfully intertwines the perspectives of these three young characters whose paths converge on the flood-ravaged island of Walcheren.
These characters form the very soul of the film, with the decisions they make shaping not only their own destinies but the freedom of those around them, as they grapple with the enormous weight of that responsibility. The film places a powerful emphasis on the ferocity of the battle and the extraordinary impact the events had on the wider outcome of the war.
Susan Radder takes on the role of Teuntje Visser, while Gijs Blom portrays Marinus van Staveren alongside Jamie Flatters as William Sinclair. Perhaps most notably, British actor Tom Felton, widely recognised for his portrayal of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise, appears in the film as Lieutenant Tony Turner.
It was watched by millions within the first month of its release (Image: Levitate Film/September Films)
A fan of the film posted a review on Rotten Tomatoes, writing: “Before watching this film I had no prior knowledge of it and no particular expectation. However, I found it engrossing and extremely realistic.
“It made me reflect on what being a soldier could be like, and I thought of my grandad, who fought in the First World War. Ultimately, I found it very moving.”
It’s based on a real story set in 1944 (Image: Netflix)
Another viewer wrote: “A gripping war drama, detailing the horrors of war. Great acting, great cinematography. Based on factual events, of which I didn’t know about.”
Available exclusively on Netflix, the production had a budget of approximately €14 million, establishing it as the second most expensive Dutch film ever produced.
The investment appears to have been worthwhile, as following its release, The Forgotten Battle featured amongst Netflix’s all-time top 10 non-English language films, accumulating 60.93 million hours watched within merely 28 days of arriving on the streaming service.
One review said they were “intrigued” from the opening moments of the picture, describing it as “like a really good book that you read from start to finish in one sitting”. Meanwhile, another viewer labelled it “terrific” and “gripping”, highlighting particularly how authentic the scenes and dialogue felt.
To witness the poignant stories of the Battle of the Scheldt depicted on screen, The Forgotten Battle is available to stream now exclusively on Netflix.