I recently saw this movie after scouring my online DVD rental sites war movies list, and it interested me straight away. And just after 15 minutes of watching it, I was hooked.
I believe not enough people outside of Holland have seen this (maybe also Holland, I am unsure how well known it is there). And I'd recommend any war movie fan to see this, as it is very interesting to see what the Dutch people went through at the hand of German occupation.
I found this movie very funny in places (e.g. Erik/Rutger at the British shooting range, hahaha!), and it showed how courageous and brave many of the Dutch people were. But also showed some quite sad scenes, like the Jewish guy Robby and their German buddy Alex.
Overall I thought this was a great movie, and a definate must see for people. And if anyone could recommend similar movies, or any other Dutch war movies, that would be great.
I liked Black Book, but this one is not only one of my favorite war movies, it is one of my favorite movies, period. It's got everything: Humor, betrayal, courage, love, fellowship, suspense,and one of the best tango scenes ever. I remember seeing Soldier of Orange in the theater, and later I bought the VHS version, and of course now I have the DVD.
Flame and Citron, also a favorite of mine, takes place in Sweden, not the Netherlands.
I recall seeing "Soldier of Orange" at the Seattle International Film Festival in 1978 or 1979...this was the U.S. premiere. I was totally impressed! Gritty, real, authentic locations, costumes, etc. (although I learned from Verhoeven's DVD commentary years later about the stuff they had to fake due to budget constraints!).
Still, in my mind, this was a way better WWII film than anything Hollywood had produced. Back in the days before VCR's and DVD's, I would go see this film again and again, anytime it was being screened. I probably saw it over a dozen times in local theaters. This led me to see every Dutch film I could....all of Verhoeven's early films and later, another Dutch favorite "The Vanishing". Rutger Hauer came to Seattle in the late 80's when the Seattle International Film Festival screened the movie again.
In the mid-80's, when VCR's came out, Soldier of Orange was the first VHS tape I ever purchased (about $80! from Media Home Entertainment, 1985), and I didn't even have a VCR yet! I even found a copy of Roelfzema's autbiography. Now I own several versions of "Soldier if Orange", including the English-dubbed, White Knight Video "Survival Run" on VHS tape, the 2001 Anchor Bay DVD and the Anchor Bay Verhoeven box set. All of these are now hard to find and crazy expensive!
Fine film too on resistance activities...which leads me to ask how the Danes, Dutch, Norwegians,Swedes historically look at their resistance activities today in light of what went on in their countries as well as France. France of course has had its debates.