Overview
A gripping tale of courage and resilience amidst the chaos of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- tense
- sweeping
- somber
- historical film night
- war cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a gripping, ambitious, and emotionally powerful Dutch World War II epic with strong performances and effective suspense.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Erik, Guus, Alex, Nico, and Jan begin as Dutch students whose relationships are tested by resistance, collaboration, exile, and military service.
The students become involved in covert missions, contacts with Britain, escape routes, and intelligence work during the Nazi occupation.
The characters respond sharply differently to Nazi rule, forcing choices between resistance, collaboration, flight, and institutional duty.
The film juxtaposes Dutch university settings and friendships with occupied streets, covert journeys, aerial missions, and large-scale liberation imagery.
Films like Soldier of Orange, and why
The Bridge on the River Kwai
historical war drama centered on resistance, divided loyalties, and personal courage under Nazi occupation
The Train
European World War II drama combining espionage, moral pressure, male camaraderie, and battlefield danger
Army of Shadows
intense wartime resistance thriller portraying civilians drawn into clandestine operations and ideological conflict
A Bridge Too Far
large-scale historical drama about friendship, occupation, and competing responses to fascism
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Verhoeven
- Release Date
- 1977-09-22
- Runtime
- 148 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (184)
Cast
- Rutger Hauer
- Jeroen Krabbé
- Lex van Delden
- Derek de Lint
- Huib Rooymans
- Dolf de Vries
- Eddy Habbema
- Belinda Meuldijk
- Peter Faber
- Rijk de Gooyer
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Darkroom
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Soldier of Orange about?
- Dutch students become resistance operatives and reluctant combatants as Nazi occupation tears apart their friendships and forces them to choose sides.
- What is Soldier of Orange like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Soldier of Orange as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Soldier of Orange violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Soldier of Orange as brutal.
- What did critics think of Soldier of Orange?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a gripping, ambitious, and emotionally powerful Dutch World War II epic with strong performances and effective suspense.
- Which films are like Soldier of Orange?
- Films with a similar feel include The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Train, Army of Shadows, and A Bridge Too Far.
- How long is Soldier of Orange?
- Soldier of Orange runs 148 minutes.
- Where can I watch Soldier of Orange?
- In United States, Soldier of Orange streams on Darkroom.
