The East(2021)

Storyline

• During the Indonesian War of Independence, a young Dutch recruit joins an elite army squad led by a man known as "The Turk." As the fight against freedom fighters becomes increasingly brutal under the helm of the infamous captain, the recruit is forced to reconsider his beliefs to the point of complete disillusionment. During the post-WW2 Indonesian War of Independence, a young Dutch soldier joins an elite unit led by a mysterious captain known only as "The Turk". When the fighting intensifies, the young soldier finds himself questioning and ultimately challenging his commander's brutal strategy to stop the resistance. — Frank Liesenborgs During the Indonesian War of Independence, a young Dutch recruit joins an elite army squad led by a man known as "The Turk." (~A Greco-Dutch guy who was born in Constantinople and joined the Dutch ressistance during 2nd WW). As the fight against freedom fighters becomes increasingly brutal under the helm of the infamous captain, the recruit is forced to reconsider his beliefs to the point of complete disillusionment. After the Japanese defeat in World War II, smart Johan de Vries and many other Dutch knaves are recruited to suppress the Sukarno rebellion that quickly turns into Indonesian independence. After boot camp, they are posted in a desolate Javanese town, where insurgents are almost impossible to find, as they retreat into the forest and any rice field villager may be an accomplice. Unlike his simpleton company comrades, Johan, with colonial relatives, learned about land and natives, treating them better then some mates deem acceptable, causing a feud within the unit. He's singled-out as volunteer right-hand by the elusive, Constantinople-born Greco-Dutch colonial Raymond 'The Turk' Westerling, captain of an elite unit given a free hand to revenge with impunity several of Johan's company mates who were shot from the jungle while Johan couldn't hang on to the machine-gun, hence risked court-martial. The Turk's ruthless methods are worse then torture assistant Johan could imagine, and maybe a deeper bloodbath among civilians then he can accept to force native collaboration. — KGF Vissers