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As "Wil" (2023 release from Belgium; 114 min.) opens, we are in "Antwerp, 1942", and the Nazi have occupied the city. We are introduced to Wil and Lode, 2 guys who have just joined the ranks of the Antwerp police. They loathe the Germans but are forced to work with them... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from writer-producer-director Tim Mielants, bringing the best-selling novel of the same name by Jeroen Olyslaegers to the big screen. I have not read the book and hence cannot comment how closely the film stick to the book. What I do know is this: this is a hard-hitting movie about the moral dilemmas of people who are put into an. Impossible position. Beware: there are several scenes of violence and worse that are sure to make you feel uncomfortable. There is no sugarcoating of what life was like under Nazi occupation. As a complete aside: I hail from Antwerp, Belgium (but now a longtime resident in the US) and I can't help but feel a little disappointed how little of the actual city is shown in the movie. "Wil" was a runaway success in Flanders, Belgium last year (sold the most tickets of any film released there in 2023; also just swept the local equivalent of the Oscars).

"Wil" premiered in Belgium last September, and it just started streaming on Netflix here. If you are in the mood for a tense movie that is heavy on moral issues of Nazi occupation in WWII, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Wars are mostly perceived as morally unambiguous. The Russians are the bad guys, the Ukrainians are the good ones. Before that, the communists were bad and the west was good. And before that, the Germans were the villains and the resistance fighters were the heroes.

In reality, it's not always clear cut. Who is bad and who is good is sometimes the result of mere circumstances. Of meeting certain people, of doing certain jobs. This is what the Flemish film 'Wil' is about. It shows how in Antwerp during the second World War, some people helped the Germans and the resistance fighters at the same time. Not because they couldn't decide what was morally wrong or right, but because circumstances forced them to, and because deep down, they preferred to stay on the sidelines.

Wil, the main character, is a low-ranking policeman in Antwerp who gets involved in an incident with a German officer. It can cost him his life. Most of the film shows how he tries to cope with this fact, and how people around him make various choices, thus influencing his own fate. The ending of the film is very dramatic, and illustrates how making moral choices differs from not doing that. Deciding not to stay on the sidelines can have an extreme impact.

The film is beautifully shot in dark, sombre colours, accentuating the difficulties of the war years. The acting is top notch, which shouldn't surprise because the cast consists of some of the best Flemish actors. This is a different kind of war movie, which inevitably makes every viewer wonder which choices he or she would have made. And to that question, there are no easy answers.

This movie while surely based off of a fictional story, does however give you insight into the mentality and moral conflictions all of these young and old men of the police had to face during nazi occupation. The reviewers criticizing the movie about the cruelty having to be seen or captured is one of if not the most idiotic thing to mention. The movie is based off of the holocaust. Is it supposed to show you confetti when somebody is shot in the face? Was the director to replace the gestapo with clowns with big funny noses? The movie is intentionally set in the grim past of reality, the movie is the perspective of Wilfried, a recounting of witnessing cruelty beyond words could describe. And the criticizing of the movie being slow or boring, not every movie about world war two has to be filled with tanks, planes, and machine guns. You don't need needless action to portray a message encapsulated in this very movie. As far as others calling this a nazi sympathizer film, did you even watch the movie? The character is objectively and morally against the Nazi collaborators and actions of the gestapo when he was faced with it. The long stares are purposeful and meaningful, the gut wrenching imagery Wilfried sees would haunt any man woman or child witnessing it first hand in a world where you've never seen a man being tortured with boiling and ice water, a world where you've never seen men and women turn on their countrymen and women over propaganda aimed to dehumanize the jewish people. This movie has the character reeling from each new day that comes, because each day seemingly gets harder and harder to cope with. 9/10 I'd have given it a 10 had it been longer.

Where to start ...

Wil is a serious film, and it leaves an impact on you. Based on the novel 'Wil' by Flemish author Jeroen Olyslaegers, it shows the grim sides of working as an auxiliary police officer during occupied Antwerp in 1942. Moral choices and consequences are displayed incredibly well in the film, and make you think about what's worth for survival and what not. Who to betray and who not. Who you would risk your life for, and who not.

It leaves a great impression on me, going from extremely violent images, to sensual, to the type of moral choices that are presented that no one is really capable of making.

A very powerful film, I would absolutely recommend it. The trailer doesn't do the film justice at all!

"WIL" is a fascinating and profound cinematic experience set in war-torn Antwerp during World War II. At its heart is the story of Wilfried Wils, a police officer confronted with intense and often heart-wrenching moral dilemmas. The film, enhanced by the impressive and immersive performances of Stef Aerts and the rest of the cast, not only brings a critical period in history to life but also casts a sharp light on the complexity of human choices in times of conflict.

The cinematography and production design are remarkable, capturing the dark, sometimes oppressive atmosphere of occupied Antwerp beautifully. This contributes to the sense of urgency and the emotional depth of the film. However, what truly sets "WIL" apart is its timeless relevance. In an era where the world is becoming increasingly polarized, the film offers an important mirror for contemporary viewers. It invites profound reflection on good and evil, and on the strength and vulnerability of humans in extreme situations.

"WIL" is a film that not only entertains but also challenges and inspires. It is an essential viewing experience for anyone interested in the complexity of human nature, moral quandaries, and the impact of historical events on personal choices. Highly recommended, especially for fans of historical dramas and thought-provoking films.