The Conscript (1974): cast, story & where to watch
1974 · Film · ★ 5.8
Released in 1974, The Conscript is a drama film directed by Roland Verhavert, running about 82 minutes.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Conscript stars Jan Decleir as Jan Braems, Ansje Beentjes as Katrien, Gaston Vandermeulen as Grootvader and Gella Allaert as Katriens moeder, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.8/10, The Conscript has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can stream it on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Conscript page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Conscript tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Conscript (1974)?
- In GB, The Conscript is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Conscript worth watching?
- The Conscript holds an audience score of 5.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Conscript?
- The Conscript stars Jan Decleir, Ansje Beentjes, Gaston Vandermeulen, Gella Allaert and Bernard Verheyden.
- When was The Conscript released?
- The Conscript was released in 1974, with a runtime of about 82 minutes.