Pastorale 1943
Pastorale 1943
| 20 April 1978 (USA)
Pastorale 1943 Trailers

In a Dutch village during the German occupation, a small group of badly organized resistance fighters attempt to assassinate a collaborator.

Reviews
Inclubabu Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.
Stellead Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful
Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
daniellinssen46 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.
jerebron 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.