Wil is a 2023 Belgian Dutch Polish historical war drama film written by Carl Joos, Tim Mielants and Jeroen Olyslaegers, directed by Mielants and starring Stef Aerts, Matteo Simoni and Annelore Crollet. It is based on Jeroen Olyslaegersâ novel of the same title.
Will unfolds in 1942 Nazi-occupied Antwerp, Belgium. Wilfried "Will" Wils (Stefâ¯Aerts) and his friend Lode Metdepenningen (Matteoâ¯Simoni) begin their roles as auxiliary police officers under German oversight. Their commanding officer, Jean, bluntly advises them: âÂÂStand aside and donâÂÂt interfereâ with German orders
On their first patrol, they are ordered by a German Feldgendarm to arrest a Jewish family. Hesitant but powerless to resist, they follow the soldier. However, when the Feldgendarm begins assaulting a mother and child, Will and Lode intervene. In the ensuing struggle, the soldier accidentally dies when Will strikes him with an iron rod. Their decision to hide the body in a manhole marks their unwitting entry into peril
In the aftermath, panic and paranoia seize Antwerp. Will seeks help from Felix Verschaffel, a collaborator claiming German connections, while LodeâÂÂs sister Yvette (Anneloreâ¯Crollet) grows increasingly distrustful of WillâÂÂs loyalties
Under growing moral pressure, Will joins forces with Lode, Yvette, and the local resistance to protect the Jewish family they initially encounteredâÂÂhiding them in the home of Chaim Litzke (Pierreâ¯Bokma)
As German investigations intensifyâÂÂled by officer Gregor SchnabelâÂÂWill manipulates information to misdirect a raid. When the raid happens, Yvette watches from a distance as Will is told to help load men women and children onto waiting trucks. He hesitates yet ultimately Will begins to help load the trucks to YvetteâÂÂs horror. Will chases after a distraught Yvette where he sees her kill herself by stepping in front of a train.
The film concludes in a conflicted, resolute silence: Will survives, having done both good and wrong, forever shadowed by wartime compromises.
The film was released in Belgian theaters on September 27, 2023.
The film has a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 8 reviews. Barbara Schulgasser-Parker of Common Sense Media awarded the film three stars out of five.
Oli Welsh of Polygon gave the film a negative review and wrote, âÂÂItâÂÂs clear-sighted on the cruel compromises of occupation and collaboration, but so fatalistic about them that it winds up wallowing in its own guilt and hopelessness. ThatâÂÂs a dark kind of truth, and not necessarily one that anyone needs to hear.âÂÂ
John Serba of Decider.com gave the film a positive review and wrote that it âÂÂwisely tells an absorbing small-scale story that keenly represents the big-picture conflict.âÂÂ