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European film companies willingly tackle subjects that no "self- respecting" U.S. film company would touch, probably for fear of alienating their market. Stricken is such a film. This Dutch offering could have only been produced in The Netherlands or Belgium and stars the inimitable Carice van Houten opposite the very capable Barry Atsma.

Convincing dialog, superlative acting, cinematography and directing, with a story line that will provoke thought and move you, this is not light fare, but a drama that offers real substance, raises valid questions and presents people as real people. The characters aren't perfect, aren't cookie cutter "heroes" or "villains," but possess flaws as well as virtues. The story line is multi-level and presents a facet of life in the Low Countries that has yet to be dealt with in our U.S. culture.

Food for the brain, possibly food for the soul (depending upon one's view of the issues), Stricken should be considered must viewing for anyone who looks to movies for more than light entertainment.

You may not agree with the moral decisions in the movie--by any of the characters--but the decision of Carmen (van Houten) is one that many will find understandable. It is her decision and the lifestyle choices of her and Stijn (Atsma) which, along with the events leading to her decision which create the drama, the tension and social/moral dilemmas.

I consider this to be one of the premier movies to come from Europe in the last decade. Few will consider it a peaceful film, almost no one could call it a "feel good" or happy movie, but it offers a view that some might find ultimately comforting.

Yak! This is the awful product of a talentless guy who is very successful here in the Netherlands..successful as in:'making millions of money with utterly talentless and silly crappy productions that are so well received by the Dutch , very receivable to manipulation, Dutch audiences.... Time after time i am wondering how is it possible that actors who are considered serious here in the lowlands lend themselves to appear in the crappy nonsense that is being made here and presented as blockbusters. This film holds nothing!!! no good acting ,not a bearable script , no moving story , no (real) drama...and before everything else no originality...but that's something that állas , hardly any Dutch mainstream movie can be accused of. (why in Godsname draw Gijs Scholten van Achgat and Pierre Bokma out of the cupboard to appear as doctors, and Why in Gods name do they accept this meager contributions to this nausea-creating work of utterly non interesting bad in every-way 'film '? shame on them !

This 'film'was horror ! made by an utterly talentless 'film'maker.

ps.why waste a crappy load of money in some vague scenes at the most cliché-Holiday paradise on earth, Borra Borra? shame on you Reinout Oerlemans , for y'r terrible useless waste of money !!!

please keep yourself far away the world of movies as a director anyway!!! (just stick to y'r money business....please...)

am i glad i did'nt buy a theatre ticket for this...

No one is perfect, and no married couple can claim to even come close. This movie deals exactly with that - two people fall in love, believe they've met 'the one' and get married. After that they need to deal with life and with each other - his character, her medical condition for example. Each of us deals with problems/issues in his life in a different way. Most of us aren't completely good or bad, we simply try to cope with items life/fate/God lands on us. The same goes with the 2 main characters of the movie. It was extremely hard for me to identify with any one of them due to their character and reactions to the other and everything around, but it was extremely easy to imagine how those things are possible - and who of my friends belong to each type. The movie is realistic, sincere and shines a bright light on what lies beneath almost every marriage. Nothing is static, and the main characters evolve and change while having to cope - with life and each other. I found the movie captivating - definitely it could happen to any of us, and I'm waiting to see it again on Blu-Ray/DVD.

For starters, i did not read the book. So i'm not going to make a comparison.

The movie has a heavy story to tell, as movies about cancer always have. But this one is different. The main character cant coop with the cancer his wife has, and fills his emptiness with the love of another woman. Not that he had such clean hands before, and his wife is aware of that. For some reason he just can't have enough of one woman. The movie will tell you how that develops trough time in the harsh time that is awaiting them.

Directing and script.

I found Reinout Oerlemans did a pretty good job on the directing, but there are a few critical points.I thought the directing got a bit in a loop, using to much of the same angles and effects which can be a bit boring for the viewer. The same thing happens with the script, you come to a point were everything is clear, and it should enter a new chapter in the story. But it seems the director needed to be sure he got the message to the viewer. And that for me is the weakest part of the movie, it spreads the whole thing a bit to long.

Acting

The acting is great, Carice does a great, great job (as always). Showing allot of different emotions and giving so much character to here role. Also Barry Atsma does a great job on acting as well, i was not familiar with him but I'm anxious to see more movies with his screenplay. All the supporting roles where fine and well picked. I did not notice my self the be annoyed with any role or what so ever.

A must see film, a directing debute for Reinault Oerlemans who did a great job, but could use a bit more finesse and diversity.

Tissues advised.

Like the book, this movie doesn't allow you to easily identify or sympathise with the main character. You have to admire the book as well as the film for bringing on a main character that you want to kick the sh1t out of every now and again, and still getting the sales that it does.

What the book does, and this carries over nicely to the film, is raise a couple what-if questions that many (read: most of us) would feel uncomfortable to answer. Mainly for that reason, the book got some irate reviews in the Netherlands. Since the movie is fairly true to the book's theme, it is inevitable that the same would happen again.

Barry Atsma does a stellar job in creating a character that most of us would want to kick the crap out for most of the movie. And Carice van Houten is... well, what can I say? If anyone could've done justice to the Carmen character from the book, it's her.

Do see this movie if you're ready to have your prejudices about love (we all have them) challenged. You might end up puzzled, which is a good thing, because it will force you to think.

If rethinking your values is not your Cup Of Tea, then I'd not recommend it.