Critic's Grade: B+

For every step that Louis Malle's "Pretty Baby" took in the wrong direction, Roeland Kerbosch's "For a Lost Soldier" manages to put its foot on a more solid path. Both films deal with the controversial subject of the pairing an adult with a much younger intimate partner, and each features casting that remains true to form in this respect. But child actor Maarten Smit all but blows Brooke Shields out of the water with his quietly understated performance as Jeroen, a young child whose life growing up in the Netherlands is forever changed in the aftermath of World War II. Having been sent by his mother from his home in Amsterdam to a foster home in the countryside, where food is more plentiful, Jeroen finds himself in surroundings that are cold and indifferent to him, despite the best efforts of his "parents" to try and welcome him. Soon after, however, the country is liberated by the Allies, which brings he and Canadian soldier Walt (Andrew Kelly) together in what begins as a friendship, and eventually consumates as a romance.

I've heard various comments from some viewers who lament over the film's inability to capture the source novel's examinations of how the adult Walt more often than not uses Jeroen for his own personal pleasures, knowing full well that their time together is limited. Not having read Rudi van Dantzig's book, I cannot attest to this statement; I can, however, report that this lack of stance seems to enhance the overall effect of the film. It's obvious that Walt isn't taking Jeroen's feelings into consideration during their various encounters, both sexual and non-sexual, but rather than spend his time condemning his character, director Kerbosch focuses on Jeroen's emotional evolution throughout the film, and delivers a heart-wrenching ending made slightly cumbersome by its inability to completely resolve its present-day subplot involving an adult Jeroen (Jeroen Krabb?). As for the pairing of young and old, the film scores points for not allowing the taboo nature of the subject matter to becomes its focal point; in the end, "For a Lost Soldier" is a simple story of first love, lovingly told.

Copyright @ Hauntnut.com

All Reviews by David Litton [Home page]
If you are the author of this review, you may edit it by signing in.