De Big van het regiment: A strange, old-fashioned detour

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you are the kind of person who enjoys tracking down dusty, pre-war European cinema, you’ll probably find something to like here. If you need crisp editing or a plot that makes sense in a modern way, you should probably stay far away. This isn't a movie for the casual Friday night crowd.

It’s based on A. Roothaert’s book, but it feels more like a stage play that someone decided to film on a Tuesday morning. It’s got that specific energy of old comedies where everyone is shouting a little too loud.

The mascot situation

The story kicks off with Lieutenant Berkhage dragging this kid back from the border. The soldiers call him 'Big.' Why? Who knows. It’s the kind of nickname that just sticks because the script says so. Watching the soldiers treat this kid like a regimental pet is definitely a choice. It’s weirdly sweet but also completely bizarre by today’s standards.

There’s a scene where the soldiers are just milling about, trying to look busy. You can tell half of them are just waiting for the lunch break. It reminds me a bit of the aimless energy in In the Knicker Time, where the background actors are doing more acting than the leads.

Why it feels like a relic

The pacing is all over the place. One minute we’re dealing with the seriousness of Belgian refugees in 1915, and the next we’re back to standard-issue slapstick. It’s jarring. It’s like the movie couldn't decide if it wanted to be a history lesson or a vaudeville show.

Adolphe Engers is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. He’s got this way of looking at the camera that feels like he’s trying to remember his lines while also keeping an eye on the door. It’s honestly kind of endearing.

Some random thoughts:

• The uniforms look like they’ve been through a dozen other movies already.
• Every time the child enters the frame, the music gets painfully sentimental.
• I swear some of the extras are just recycled from There He Goes.
• The dialogue is fast, but it doesn't always go anywhere.

It’s a bit of a relic. It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s certainly not high art. But it captures a moment in Dutch film history that’s mostly forgotten. Sometimes, you just need to watch something that feels like it was filmed in a different universe. This fits the bill perfectly. 🎞️