It's unlikely that a movie like "For a Lost Soldier" would be made
today. Some might say we live in more 'protective' times; others might
say we live in more puritanical times. I have no intention of getting
into arguments over the Me2 Movement or indeed about how cinema and the
world at large has become more censorial on what we can see or say or
do. "For a Lost Soldier" is by no means an explicit film but its theme
is clear. It's about a 12 year old boy in war-time Holland who
not only develops a friendship with an older Canadian soldier but also
falls in love with him as well and, we are lead to believe, probably
experiences something sexual with him, too. The boy grows up gay, (he is
played in adult life by Jeroen Krabbe), though I would suggest he was
always gay and was simply acting on his nature.
Since the film was made in 1992 the age of consent has gone down and
the world in general is thankfully much more accepting of gay
relationships in all forms though children are still protected in law
from exploitation and rightly so, though someone seeing "For a Lost
Soldier" might argue no exploitation takes place while others will argue
that Walt, the soldier's relationship with the child is predatory since
it is he who initiates the sexual element and may argue that the abuse
is at least emotional. Some, on the other hand, will see him as innocent
as the boy.
Of course, what the film basically is is a love story; a tale of first love, the difference being that both protagonists are male and one of them is a child. It was controversial when it was made and it's just as controversial now. It discusses issues that most people still find repugnant and it will always be a film that will have difficulty finding its audience. It isn't that well-made; director Roeland Kerbosch isn't the most proficient of film-makers and the acting is adequate at best but it remains a brave and challenging film and ultimately a very touching one. Unfortunately, times being what they are, it's now almost impossible to see.
Of course, what the film basically is is a love story; a tale of first love, the difference being that both protagonists are male and one of them is a child. It was controversial when it was made and it's just as controversial now. It discusses issues that most people still find repugnant and it will always be a film that will have difficulty finding its audience. It isn't that well-made; director Roeland Kerbosch isn't the most proficient of film-makers and the acting is adequate at best but it remains a brave and challenging film and ultimately a very touching one. Unfortunately, times being what they are, it's now almost impossible to see.
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