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History fans have issued an urgent plea to all Amazon Prime Video streamers to watch the “masterpiece” WWII film, Soldier of Orange. The Dutch war thriller, which first premiered in 1977, tells the story of a young aristocrat, Erik Lanshof (played by Rutger Hauer) and a group of his university friends who join the resistance movement against the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Throughout the 148-minute runtime, viewers are transported to the late 1930s with a flashforward to the immediate postwar period, where Queen Wilhelmina returns to the Netherlands after living in exile in London.
The film’s fresh perspective offers a unique insight into how the students’ lives were turned upside down as they transitioned from jovial drinking and participating in freshman initiations to becoming soldiers themselves. Soldiers of Orange follows the friends through the beginning of the war, the Nazi occupation and the eventual liberation.
The film was a huge hit with audiences and critics alike, so much so that it received an impressive score of 92% on the aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes.
Fans also left glowing reviews on IMDb, where one penned: “I have enjoyed seeing this movie more than twice because it includes humour and absurdity along with fighting the good fight. It doesn’t flinch from the ugly. Great music. Fine acting. Well crafted in creating the historic atmosphere, dense with character. Entertaining pace.”
Another praised: “This is an excellent adaptation of a true story of university students reacting to World War II.”
“This movie simply has no flaw at all. It’s perfect, marvellous, stunning, any other adjective that addresses perfection! Anyone with a heart will LOVE this movie! A well-deserved five stars from me,” echoed another.
As a fourth added: “I have re-watched it several times over the years, and it never gets old. It’s a must-watch and highly recommended!”
One shared: “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. No internet, no mobiles and no drones.”
As another simply put: “Incredible. Shows how an ‘epic’ is about characters, not big explosions.”
Soldier of Orange is based on the real WWII experiences of Dutch resistance fighter Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, who chronicled his story in his autobiography, Soldaat van Oranje, published in the 1970s.
Following the film’s impressive reception, including a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award in 1979 and a Golden Globe nomination, it was adapted into a stage musical in 2010, which travelled around the world and was set to have its major UK premiere in London’s Royal Docks in 2020, but was postponed due to pandemic restrictions.
As well as Hauer, English acting veteran Edward Fox was among the strong ensemble of cast in the film. While Soldier of Orange is highly regarded as one of director Paul Verhoeven’s best films.
