The Conscript
6.4
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 todays 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.
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Cast
26 people
Jan Decleir
Jan Braems
Known for
The Claus Family
Character
Ansje Beentjes
Katrien
Also in
Blind Spot
Adelbert
Roland Verhavert
Peter Simons
Nic Bal
J.E. Lauwers
Gaston Vandermeulen
Grootvader
Also in
The Arrival of Joachim Stiller
The Man Who Dares
Jan van Raemdonck
Ralf Boumans
Gella Allaert
Katriens moeder
Also in
Talking to a Stranger
Malpertuis
Hendrik Conscience
Monique Lebrun
Roland Verhavert Director · Nic Bal Screenplay Hendrik Conscience Author
First release February 8, 1974 · Produced in Belgium · Languages Dutch, French
Production
Elan Film N.V.
Production
Ministerie van Nationale Opvoeding en Nederlandse Cultuur (België)
Production
Kunst en Kino
Production
Belgium
Produced in
Languages
Original title
De Loteling
Original language
Dutch
Spoken on screen
Dutch · French
Release dates
Belgium · February 8, 1974
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
France
October 17, 2021 · Digital · Netflix
Germany
June 1, 1974 · Berlin International Film Festival
Netherlands
February 28, 1974 · Theatrical
More from Roland Verhavert
Other films they directed, best known first.
Some details come from TheTVDB.