Synopsis
A young Dutch soldier deployed to suppress post-WWII independence efforts in the Netherlands’ colony of Indonesia finds himself torn between duty and conscience when he joins an increasingly ruthless commander’s elite squad.
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Cast
- Martijn LakemeierJohan de Vries
- Marwan KenzariRaymond "De Turk" Westerling
- Jonas SmuldersMattias Cohen
- Jim DeddesWerner de Val
- Abel van GijlswijkSjaak "Charlie" Rondhuis
- Coen BrilEddy Coolen
- Reinout Scholten van AschatTinus de Val
- Joes BrauersHerman Keizer
- Peter Paul MullerMajor Penders
- Mike ReusCamp Commander Mulder
Recommendations
- 80
Film Threat
It’s a thrilling, poignant accomplishment, as uncompromisingly bleak as it is epic in scope. - 67
Austin Chronicle
The East is an unrelenting condemnation of the Netherlands’ misguided attempt to return its colonial outreach to a time long gone while hitting most (if not all) of the “doomed war” niche genre movie tropes without ever actually teetering into cliche. That’s an ever-tricky move that Taihuttu aces. - 50
RogerEbert.com
The East is essentially divided into two halves, and neither is more illuminating than the other. - 40
The New York Times
The details may be novel — even eye-opening for some — but this story of white guilt and brutality feels mighty old. - 40
The Guardian
Covering the Indonesian war of independence through the viewpoint of the occupier, The East is yet another pale addition to the format, rehashing empty metaphors that are barren of emotional complexity, historical poignancy or visual ingenuity.
