The Forgotten Battle, directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., is a gripping and poignant exploration of the little-known Battle of the Scheldt.
“The Forgotten Battle” delves into the often-overlooked Battle of the Scheldt, a critical yet largely unknown campaign of World War II. Set in the autumn of 1944, the film presents a multifaceted narrative through the eyes of three individuals whose lives converge in the midst of this brutal and pivotal conflict in the Dutch province of Zeeland.
The story follows the intersecting journeys of a young Dutch resistance fighter, a British glider pilot, and a reluctant German soldier. Each character’s perspective offers a unique lens into the horrors and moral complexities of war.
Teuntje Visser (Susan Radder) is a determined young woman from Zeeland who becomes deeply involved in the Dutch resistance movement. After her brother is arrested by the Nazis for his underground activities, Teuntje takes up the mantle to fight against the German occupation. Her story is one of courage, sacrifice, and the desperate hope for liberation.
William Sinclair (Jamie Flatters), a British glider pilot, is part of the Allied forces aiming to secure the Scheldt estuary to open the port of Antwerp. His mission is fraught with peril as he navigates the treacherous terrain and faces fierce German resistance. William’s journey is marked by camaraderie, loss, and the relentless pursuit of a strategic victory that could turn the tide of the war.
Obergefreiter August Kieper (Tom Felton) is a German soldier stationed in Zeeland. Disillusioned with the Nazi regime and weary from the endless fighting, August grapples with his conscience and the brutal realities of his duty. His character explores the internal conflict of a soldier trapped in a war he no longer believes in, ultimately seeking redemption through acts of quiet defiance.