'Magnificent' Netflix war drama leaves 'torn' audience speechless

The gripping war film first released in 2020 and began streaming on the following year is still captivating fans and history buffs alike having received a 100 percent approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes.

The harrowing war film The Forgotten Battle directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. depicts the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944 during . The film follows a Dutch Axis soldier played by Gijs Blom, a British glider pilot played by Jamie Flatters, and a resistance woman from Zeeland played by Susan Radder. Tom Felton, who rose to fame after playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film, also stars in the movie as character Tony Turner, a Royal Air Force First Officer who gets separated from his comrades after an accident, along with main character Will Sinclair.

Described by one critic as "unflinching and gut-wrenching, The Forgotten Battle is at times absolutely stunning" and viewers are still flocking to watch the touching film.

Film enthusiasts have continued to express their admiration for the epic war drama which has been described as "magnificent" while others have been left "speechless", as one fan raved: "Before watching this film I had no prior knowledge of it and no particular expectation. However, I found it engrossing and extremely realistic. It made me reflect on what being a soldier could be like and I thought of my grandad who fought in the First World War. Ultimately, I found it very moving."

Another review said: "The Forgotten Battle excels in its visual and technical aspects, with impressive cinematography and a fitting musical score that enhances the overall viewing experience. Despite its modest budget, the film delivers high-quality action sequences and a realistic depiction of wartime struggles, making it a standout in the genre. Overall, "The Forgotten Battle" is a gripping and educational film that offers a poignant look at a lesser-known but crucial part of World War II history. It is a must-watch for fans of war movies and those interested in historical events."

The Forgotten Battle was considered a great success upon its release, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a critic score of 100 percent. Within 28 days of being on Netflix, the film had accumulated over 60.93 million hours watched, making it one of the service's top 10 non-English movies of all time.

The film finished in third place in the list of most successful films in the Netherlands in 2021 with just over 507,000 tickets sold. It was the highest Dutch film on the list, with No Time to Die and Fast & Furious 9 in first and second place respectively. The film won the Platinum Film Award for box office success.

While the film is not based on real people - The Forgotten Battle is based on real events with many of the big-picture moments capturing true elements of World War II, including the tactics and equipment used.

The Battle of Scheldt was a series of military operations, with Polish and British units attached, to open up the shipping route to Antwerp so that its port could be used to supply the Allies in north-west Europe. It was one of the largest and most severe military operations that took place on Dutch soil during the Second World War.

Another review says: "Astonishing movie and surely this should spark a host more of movies depicting the European WW2. It isn't the action (let's face it, guns, shooting, death can only be shot so many ways) but the context, story and characters provide a gripping combination that you won't forget."

While the film has been compared to the 1998 classic Saving Private Ryan, others were left somewhat torn by the film, as one shared: "This is a good war movie. Graphic at times, but the stories drive the movie forward until the end. Very well filmed and acted. A well made feature if you can stomach war."

The Forgotten Battle has continued to receive glowing reviews five years on as one read: "This is one of the most impressive movies about WWII that I have ever seen. The battle sequences are evocative of the chaos, horror, brutality and insanity of war. Most realistic, surpassing even 'Saving Private Ryan'. Magnificent. I plan to study this one for quite a while."

Another shared: "Surprisingly good WW2 film that had some drama and action. I really liked that it focused on a theatre of the war not normally covered by Hollywood."

The Forgotten Battle is available to stream on Netflix