Het bombardement

As a Brit, I found this very watchable and don't really identify with the negative comments. I welcomed this insight into the Rotterdammers experience of German invasion, enjoyed the storyline and the writing and thought the acting perfectly fine. It was a gentler take (e.g.12) which suits lockdown viewing fine.

Jan Smit is miscast as Vincent a poor, semi-orphaned bellboy/baker/boxer who falls in love with German girl Eva (Roos van Erkel), who's about to embark on a marriage of convenience with a powerful businessman to save her mentally handicapped brother Herman (beautifully played by Jelle Pelmaerts) from almost certain death at the hands of the Nazis. Although it is suggested that Vincent is illiterate (he only 'reads' a boxing magazine for its pictures) he somehow speaks fluent German which is pointed out, and then ignored. Moreover, Jan Smit looks far too squeaky clean to convince as a young man struggling to make ends meet in Rotterdam, just days before it is bombed to smithereens by the Germans. Nevertheless, Jan Smit does a very creditable job and handles the lighter scenes quite well, coasting on his seemingly natural charm which has made him the Dutch pop icon he is. There is also palpable chemistry between him and Van Erkel, who is also somewhat miscast as she is too plain-looking. Why would a shrewd, materialistic businessman - who is in a position to pick his women - settle for her? The voice-overs by venerable story-teller Aart Staartjes are disappointingly bland, and repetitive. The love story between the two leads, however, works surprisingly well, and is helped immensely by the stunning cinematography by Gabor Szabo, who creates some unforgettable moments. The bombardment of the title is well-designed and beautifully shot, and underlines the ambition of this film to be the Dutch answer to Titanic, which it has tried to emulate a bit too obviously. Not a great film, but quite entertaining and definitely worth watching.

The movie is well worth seeing. The story itself it quite elaborate, with a love story and action sequences synchronized with the short-lived war in the Netherlands in May 1940. Many facts about the war are well interwoven with the story-line and give some interesting historical background. The back-grounds of the two main characters are defined by their having to do something important in their lives which they do only out of altruism for a brother, and the love they are starting to experience is jeopardizing their former resolve. The main characters are quite believable and show real chemistry, the action stunts grip you, and the photography sublime. Roos van Erkel really shines. Many critics are far too easy and harsh. They try to frame it as a Titanic-me-too, but ever heard of the age-old story of Romeo and Juliett? Because Jan Smit is known for being a singer, that doesn't mean he can't act. I could go on. If you are willing to let the actors and the story move you, this is a moving experience for the whole family.

This is a movie that should not have been made. The story doesn't have anything to do with the Bombardement of Rotterdam. It happens to be that period. One of the first shots in the movie is not Rotterdam but Dordrecht and simple to see.

Jan Smit is a singer. Het can't act. During the movie he stays the singer Jan Smit and never becomes his character. The childish story isn't his fault. I must admit I left before the end of the movie (like: when an egg is bad you don't have the eat it completely)

Gerard Cox is the best actor here and he only has minor part. The bombing is nothing compared to the opening of the German movie 'Der Untergang'; it doesn't scare you a bit.

i like Jan Smit the way he is as a guy and I'm sorry for him that he accepted this part in such a terrible movie.

Poor acting and a thin story. Such a shame because the bombing of Rotterdam is a good subject for a great movie. Unbelievable script with situations that will never happen, therefore a bit hard to chew on. Maybe someone else is looking for a story to tell the right way, find your inspiration in Rotterdam!