LE CONSCRIT

By : Roland Verhavert

With : Ansje Beentjes, Jan Decleir, Gella Allaert, Gaston Vandermeulen
Belgique, 1974, PAL, 16/9 - 83 min
toutes zones, N&B, dolby digital 2.0


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English title : THE CONSCRIPT
Original Title : DE LOTELING

Directed by : Roland Verhavert

With : Ansje Beentjes, Jan Decleir, Gella Allaert, Gaston Vandermeulen
Belgium, 1974, PAL, 16/9 - 83 min
All zones, Black and White, dolby digital 2.0

Language : Dutch
Subtitles : English, Dutch, French

In 1833, when the fledgling Belgian kingdom still fears a Dutch invasion, recruits were selected annually from an age cohort by a draw of lots in each locality. In this grim, then contemporary drama by the "father of Flemish literature", Hendrik Conscience, Jan Braems, a poor and naive farmers-boy, accepts the not uncommon offer by a rich family to sell his lucky ticket (out) to their son for a hefty sum compared to the miserable labor wages at the time. Army life is even harsher then a farmhand's, especially for a Dutch-speaking an-alphabet who simply can't understand his francophone superiors, and Jan's nature is not complacent enough for military discipline even by today's standards, so he soon gets into all kinds of trouble, including gambling his capital away and a venereal disease. When his girlfriend back home goes looking for him, her life is doomed as well.

The success of MIRA in 1971 inspired producer Jan Van Raemdonck to try and repeat this formula. Nic Bal, production manager of the national broadcasting company, assistant director Roland Verhavert in adapting the novella. In his hands, the original naïve story, where every ordeal is rewarded, turns into a dark and detached drama ruled by fate.

Berlin International Film Festival award, in 1974.

Extras :
Documentaries
· THE ROLAND VERHAVERT ARCHIVES (32 min.)
· Set-visit by the crew of the television show Echo in september 1973.

Short film
· The tv-drama DE ZACHTMOEDIGE (Roland Verhavert, 1970)

Trailers
· THE FAREWELLS (HET AFSCHEID, 1966)
· ROLANDE, CHRONICLE OF A PASSION (ROLANDE MET DE BLES, 1972)
· THE CONSCRIPT (DE LOTELING, 1974)
· PALLIETER (1975)
· BRUGGE DIE STILLE (1981)
· PEASANT PSALM (BPERENPSALM, 1989)