Freedom?
Today on May 5, 2021, the Netherlands is celebrating 76 years of freedom from the German occupiers. 76 years ago that the Netherlands was liberated by the Allies. 76 years ago the WWII came to an end for the Dutch people.
And where are we today? Our freedom has not been taken away by a German occupier at the moment. We are not locked up in our homes by war. We have no restrictions on how we have to keep five feet apart for a year and a half because we are under threat from outside. We are celebrating 76 years of freedom while being restricted by our own governments due to a pandemic, and while vaccinations are now available, the measures that restrict us are not over yet.
But nevertheless, we are celebrating 76 years of freedom today… while locked in the privacy of our home.
And while a strong stormy wind blows around the house, the rain hits the windows, and we occasionally see a streak of sunlight falling in, and my partner in the garden house is working with the lathe, he's doing some wood turning, I am thinking of a few tasty snacks. We want to watch a movie tonight. A film that fits perfectly with this day.
The film is called "The Girl With The Red Hair".
And it is a film that fits perfectly with the idea of celebrating freedom. A film based on a book. The book was written by Theun de Vries and the film was later directed by Ben Verbong.
It is a romanticized story based on the life of a real person. It is about Jannetje Johanna (Hannie) Schaft, a well-known resistance fighter from the Netherlands.
Very short the story of the book and the movie!
Hannie Schaft, a law student, decides to join a resistance group because she wants to do something against the occupation of the Netherlands. She will perform courier work until she is shot at during an action. A boy gets shot, right before her eyes. In response, she decides to take a tougher stance.
Together with Hugo, who has meanwhile become Hannie's lover, she now commits attacks on collaborators. In one of these attacks, Hugo is fatally hit, and this puts Hannie in great danger. The Gestapo finds a photo of her, which Hugo was carrying with him.
From that moment on, the occupiers hunt for her. Hannie disguises herself by dyeing her hair black and wearing glasses and wants only one thing: to liquidate Hugo's traitor.
A Reminder for all of us
Then time for my reflection. Although I don't find the movie unpleasant, and on days like today a great one to watch again, if only to keep reminding ourselves that many people have given their lives so that we can now live in freedom.
(Maybe a good idea if the high lords in politics watch these kinds of movies again and realize that what they are doing now is in total contrast to what the generation fought so hard for us).
That aside, I wanted to say that I was never as impressed by the film as I was by the book. It has nothing to do with the actors because Renee Soutendijk plays the role of Hannie Schaft very convincingly.
Ben Verbong has also done a good job as a director, but I think I miss TOO many from the book in the film.
As is unfortunately often the case when a book is filmed. Usually I personally like the book better than the movie. And that is also the case now.
The book taught me a lot
The book taught me a lot about the grim atmosphere of the time, taught me that when you are in need, you are capable of more than you would ever have expected from yourself, for better and for worse.
We are rich!
Although I prefer the book myself, I still believe that in fact everyone should have seen this film. Either way, it's a war documentary, showing you how grateful we should be that this is over. It makes you realize how rich we actually are ...
And what we now all have to consider. Unfortunately not with as much freedom, at the moment, as what we are used to. But which we will hopefully have again very soon!
Very good reflection, I don't remember having seen the film but I'm going to look for it, I agree with what you mention, even if they are difficult times we should be grateful because I'm sure we are better off than many. Happy day!
Thank you! I think so too. We have tough times now, but we will have the freedom again. It's just a matter of time. There are countries in this world where such a freedom isn't as common.
What you say is very true, there are countries in the world where they don't enjoy freedom, where they don't know what that is.
We will return to normality, bad things don't last forever.
"Today on May 5, 2021, the Netherlands is celebrating 76 years of freedom from the German occupiers. 76 years ago that the Netherlands was liberated by the Allies. 76 years ago the WWII came to an end for the Dutch people." OP
Congrats, have oddly or coincidentally been watching a lot of WWI and WWII docs lately, not sure why but without fighting for right you can fall for the wrong.
axey :)
It's not that odd I think, but coincidentally ... who knows. And yeah, without fighting for right, you defo can fall for the wrong.