Gijs Blom
Marinus van Staveren
The Forgotten Battle
“In the final years of World War II, the lives of a traitor, a pilot, and a resistance fighter become intertwined as they fight to survive.”
2021
2h 6m
Overview
During WWII's crucial Battle of the Scheldt, the lives of a glider pilot, a Nazi soldier and a reluctant Resistance recruit tragically intersect.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min readThe battle that never made the highlight reel
I've watched a lot of war films. The ones we keep putting on screen are rarely the ones that decided the war. D-Day, Stalingrad, the Bulge.
Clear heroes, clear villains, a victory that sits neatly in the frame. Other fights had the same mud and the same stakes, and they still dropped out of the reel because the ending was messier. The Forgotten Battle is about one of those. That is why I needed it.
October 1944. The Battle of the Scheldt. The Allies have taken Antwerp, and the port is useless until the Germans are cleared from the estuary.
Canadian, British, and Polish troops slog through flooded fields, minefields, and entrenched resistance. Dutch civilians try to survive in the crossfire. No grand charge.
No last stand that changes everything. Exhaustion, miscalculation, and the slow cost of moving a few hundred yards. The title is a poke in the ribs.
Why did we forget this one? What does it say that some wars get a memorial and others get a footnote?
The film splits into three lives that only brush each other. Marinus is a young Dutch Nazi collaborator, played by Gijs Blom, and his idealism curdles the longer the war drags. William is a British glider pilot, played by Jamie Flatters, who crash-lands behind enemy lines and has to trust the Resistance because he has no other choice.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A gripping yet uneven war drama that shines in its emotional moments but struggles with pacing and narrative focus."
Viewers appreciate the film’s intense battle sequences and strong performances, particularly from the lead actors, which bring depth to the historical setting. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, the story’s fragmented perspective and slow build-up frustrate some, making it feel drawn-out despite its powerful climax.
What viewers praise
- Strong performances The cast, especially Gijs Blom and Jamie Flatters, delivers compelling and emotionally resonant performances that anchor the film.
- Intense battle scenes The war sequences are praised for their realism and visceral impact, making the historical conflict feel immersive.
- Emotional depth The film’s exploration of personal stories within the larger conflict resonates with audiences, adding weight to the historical events.
- Authentic setting The attention to historical detail and the Dutch perspective on WWII provide a fresh take on familiar themes.
Common complaints
- Slow pacing The film’s deliberate build-up and multiple storylines test the patience of some viewers, making it feel overly long.
- Fragmented narrative The shifting perspectives between characters can feel disjointed, diluting the impact of individual arcs.
- Underdeveloped side characters While the leads shine, some supporting roles lack depth, leaving their stories feeling incomplete.
- Predictable moments Some plot developments follow familiar war-movie tropes, reducing the element of surprise.
Recommended for
WWII drama enthusiasts Fans of character-driven war films Viewers who enjoy emotional historical stories Dutch cinema lovers Gijs Blom and Jamie Flatters fans
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe Forgotten Battle: Behind the Scenes of Netflix’s Epic WWII Drama
The Forgotten Battle (2021) isn’t just another World War II film—it’s a multilingual epic with a budget that made waves in Dutch cinema. As the second most expensive Dutch film production ever 
, it blended Dutch, German, and English dialogue to tell a story inspired by true events . Here’s what we know about the making of this Netflix hit.
A Budget That Broke Records
The film’s $14 million price tag (reported in Dutch media, per ) set it apart from typical Dutch productions. For context, it’s second only to Black Book (2006) in Dutch cinema history . The investment paid off: within 28 days of its Netflix release, The Forgotten Battle racked up 60.93 million hours watched, landing it in Netflix’s top 10 non-English movies of all time . That’s no small feat for a war drama with subtitles.
The Battle That Inspired It All
The film reenacts the 1944 Battle of the Scheldt, a brutal but often overlooked Allied campaign to secure the Scheldt estuary in the Netherlands . Director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. (The Thing prequel) wove together three perspectives: a Dutch Axis soldier (Gijs Blom), a British glider pilot (Jamie Flatters), and a Dutch resistance fighter (Susan Radder) 
. The result? A Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% from critics , though audience reactions were more mixed.
Casting Surprises and Tom Felton’s Role
Gijs Blom, known for Dutch TV and films like Nena, took on the morally complex role of Marinus van Staveren, a disillusioned Nazi soldier . British actor Jamie Flatters (Avatar sequels) played the Allied pilot, while Susan Radder portrayed the resistance fighter . But the biggest name attached? Tom Felton (Harry Potter), who played a supporting role as a young Dutch fighter . Felton’s casting added star power, though his character’s arc was overshadowed by the film’s ensemble focus.
Delayed Release and Netflix’s Gamble
Originally slated for a December 2020 theatrical release, the film was pushed to 2021 due to pandemic delays . Netflix swooped in, giving it a global platform. The gamble worked: The Forgotten Battle became one of the streamer’s most-watched non-English films . Rumor has it Netflix was drawn to its historical authenticity and high production value—though no official statements confirm this.
What’s Missing?
For all its success, behind-the-scenes details are scarce. No leaked set photos, no viral cast feuds, and no director’s commentary on Netflix. The film’s multilingual shoot—switching between Dutch, German, and English—must have been logistically complex, but specifics are thin . If there were on-set tensions or creative clashes, they haven’t surfaced in public.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.