Netflix 'The Forgotten Battle' Ending Explained: Battle's tragic end is just Act One
'The Forgotten Battle' just dropped on Netflix and the film is one to watch if you're a war drama lover. A touching yet tragic watch the Netflix movie holds its own with incredible production, brilliant acting and stunning visuals.
The official Netflix synopsis states — "November 1944. On the flooded island of Walcheren in Zeeland, thousands of allies fight the German army and touch three young lives, inextricably connected. A Dutch boy fighting for the Germans, an English glider pilot and a Zeeland girl who reluctantly joined the resistance. All three are faced with crucial choices that are not only about their own freedom but also about the freedom of others." Here's what occurred in the Netflix drama.
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Spoilers for 'The Forgotten Battle'
The movie begins as we are shown a map of the areas Germany occupies as we are informed of the Allies' successful efforts in freeing a part of the territory. The area of Scheldt, however, is still under Nazi rule. We see Teuntje Visser in Zeeland (Susan Radder) help getting rid of documents under the false impression that the Canadian allies have taken over. Her brother Dirk (Ronald Kalter) is harassed by German soldiers on the road. Angry he throws a rock at an oncoming car which ends up killing 3 others when the car skids. He runs away to hide. We then see Marinus van Staveren (Gijs Blom) a Nazi soldier, who after fighting on the frontlines, ends up in the hospital. A sympathizing superior arranges a desk job for him in Zeeland, where he is transferred. Next comes William Sinclair (Jamie Flatters), a English glider pilot who joins his troop and heads to help the Allies. Later the Germans are on the hunt for Dirk, who is still in hiding. Teuntje's father, a doctor who treated the Germans as well tries to ask for a favor. Dirk will be turned in but not killed even if he serves a life sentence. The German officer toys with the father and daughter even as Teuntje, speaking in Dutch, tells her father it's useless. We are shown the first interaction and meeting of Marinus and Teuntje here as he translates for the German general. Before Dirk is taken away, he informs his sister of photographs he's hidden which need to be delivered to Janna (Marthe Schneider). Turns out he's a part of the Resistance too and the pictures will help the Allies. Teuntje agrees to give them on the condition they rescue her brother.
William's plane crashes with his partner Tony Turner( Tom Felton) injured badly. They land in the middle of nowhere and hide while looking for shelter. The whole event ends up with the death of Tony with the rest of his troops betraying and abandoning him. Meanwhile, Marinus sees Dirk being tortured and giving up names and his death is impending. Showing humanity, he secretly informs Teuntje. She, in turn, rushes to tell Janna and the rest of the Resistance, who decide to help them. Marinus is spotted and is sent back to the frontlines after being forced to execute the Resistance members.
'The Forgotten Battle' Ending Explained
William after getting a boat and traveling alone comes across the Canadian Allies who he joins at Scheldt. Marinus is posted opposite him on the German front and suffers due to PTSD. At the same time, Teuntje is sneaking with Janna to get the map of German positions to the Allies. What follows is a series of encounters between the three. William is caught by Marinus who doesn't shoot. William turns to shoot but stops with both of them mentally exhausted with everything. Teuntje gets captured by the Germans as Janna who is hidden gets away. Janna is also shot later but is found by the Allies, who get the map while treating her. As the Allies renew their attack with newfound fervor, Marinus back at camp finds and saves Teuntje, killing the soldier who was hurting her but also gets shot in the process. Teuntje treats a crying Marinus as he dies. This occurs at the same moment William arrives at the same scene and we see all three have a tragic union. The movie ends on a sad note as we are informed that this battle did not signal the end, but was just a stepping stone to the real end of the war. The Germans at Antwerp are captured as the death count of Allies, Germans, and civilians flashes on the screen.
'The Forgotten Battle' is now streaming on Netflix