The East

Set in the aftermath of the Second World War, this historical war drama follows Johan de Vries, a young Dutch soldier stationed in Indonesia to stifle independence movements. Seeking more action, Johan joins an elite squad led by Captain Raymond Westerling. As the commander employs increasingly brutal tactics to achieve his goals, the soldier finds himself conflicted, struggling to balance his military obligations with his own moral conscience.

Directed by Jim Taihuttu, this production is the second feature in the director's career, following Rabat and preceding Hardcore Never Dies. The screenplay was co-written by Taihuttu and Mustafa Duygulu. The film features Martijn Lakemeier in the lead role, alongside Marwan Kenzari, Jonas Smulders, Jim Deddes, Abel van Gijlswijk, and Coen Bril. A total of 52 credited actors and 56 crew members contributed to the project, which was produced by companies including XYZ Films and France 2 Cinéma.

Since its release on August 13, 2021, the movie has received a generally positive response from viewers. On IMDb, it holds a rating of 6.8/10 based on 7,700 votes, while it has a score of 6/10 on TMDB from 79 votes.