Plot summary
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.
Director
Movie Reviews
Makes Les Mis' look like a comedy
Just Plain Stupid
I don't know what movie these other reviewers watched, but this one sucks as a drama and should have stayed a comedy of errors. The main male protagonist was the worst actor in the entire movie, but I pin a lot of his misstep and his buffoonery on the direction given.
Add the Bull Excrement coincidental meeting of the two bandits at the end for a gratuitous sex scene just places the icing on the cake for this weakly written farce. It seems that old tired cliched laden nonsense such as this tripe will forever be a staple in movie fare. Or at least until we cultivate writers who can think outside of the nitwit block of weak AF script writing.
One hour and twenty some minute of my life that I cannot get back wasted on this movie.