Starring - Frederik de Groot (The Little Riders, Star Cops), Leen Jongewaard (My Blue Heaven, Looking for Eileen), and Coen Flink (The Bluffers, Flanagan)
Release Date - 1978
Genre - War/Drama
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Back when I received the press release for this release I wasn't too keen on Pastorale 1943. The artwork was boring and the synopsis just didn't sound that entertaining. Hell, the only reason I even requested this set for review was for Julia and Mysteries. However, when I finished both those films and tossed in Pastorale 1943 I was surprised by how great the film was. It is one of the better films in the set and another prime example of why a movie fan should never judge a book by it's cover.
The film follows a small Dutch village that is occupied by German forces in 1943. We follow a group of unorganized resistance fighters who plan on assassinating one of their own because they are a Nazi sympathizer.
Pastorale 1943 is easily my favorite film in the set but it's far from perfect. It suffers from timing issues and the movie is far too long for the type of story we are given. I really did enjoy it but at over two hours long I found myself truly struggling to finish it. It's a great period piece about Nazi occupation that many history buffs can appreciate. The acting in this one is fantastic. I loved the characters and how far the cast went to bring them to life. Some of the scenes have light humor which they pull off perfectly but I was really impressed by how great the casting was here. It is a bit of a shame how little Sylvia Kristel was in the film considering how the film is part of her box set from Cult Epics. The story for this one is great. It's a war time drama with a lot of characters and a story that is easy to follow but worth the pay off. The story could be condensed to fix the lengthy run time due to it's ridiculous length. However, if it was around an hour and a half it would be more manageable. I love the set up and premise but the pacing and timing is a little off for my tastes. Finally, don't expect a bloody film or one with lots of skin. It's focused on the story which has no room for blood or boobs. Overall, Pastorale 1943 is another odd one that I was sent for review but I fucking loved. I highly recommend this one especially if you are looking for something outside of horror. It's a lot of fun.
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