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.
Jan Decleir
as Jan Braems
Ansje Beentjes
as Katrien
Gaston Vandermeulen
as Grootvader
Gella Allaert
as Katriens moeder
Bernard Verheyden
as Karel
Marieke van Leeuwen
as Hoertje
Idwig Stephane
as Korporaal
Eddy Asselbergs
as Boef
Leo Madder
as Boef
Denise Zimmerman
as Vrouw van kommandant
Rudi Van Vlaenderen
as Dokter
Johan Vanderbracht
as Kommandant
