Sadly Over-hyped

Powerful

Excellent but underrated film

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Recently Dutch filmmaker Wim Verstappen past away at age 67. He is one of the more underrated filmmakers in Holland. His best film is undeniably PASTORALE 1943, based on a novel by the famous Dutch writer Simon Vestdijk. A view on the activities of Dutch-resistance during WWII. No heroes, these people, but men and women who make mistakes quite a few, and with human feelings and faults all the way. Central to the story is the assassination attempt at Dutch middleman, collaborating with the Germans. A group of resistance-men think he's responsible for executing some people who were hiding for the Nazis. The cast of the film is great, especially Renee Soutendijk as a farmers-daughter, and Frederik De Groot as a young school teacher, who is also the leading member of the resistance-group. Rutger Hauer has an impressing bit part as the Nazi-brother of De Groot, in the last 5 minutes of the film. Allround the actors are impressive. Verstappen directed this film with just the right touch, with attention for many small details. Also the brilliant camera-work, by acclaimed photographer Marc Felperlaan, must be named. All in all a terrific, underrated Dutch war movie that gives another, fresh look at the Resistance during the war in Holland.

This movie gives a good insight in how a well meant act of resistance (against the German occupation in WWII) goes awry, due to incompetent and amateuristic leadership. The picture it paints of the Dutch resistance is not flattering, but it also shows how difficult it was for the well meaning members to effectively organize themselves and arm themselves against collaborators and traitors.