De gelukkige huisvrouw

The Dutch film industry once again shows that it has great potential. This story, based on the novel by Heleen van Rooijen, is a 'typical' dutch movie, meaning that it shows a lot of nakedness very often.

But the storyline is very good, leading you gently into the main character's mind and making you understand how a woman can be driven to hurt her own child. Although Lea commits unforgivable acts in the beginning of the story, you can't help but feeling sorry for her.

The acting, not only by favorite Carice van Houten who once again shows her great talent, but also by her counterpart Waldermar Torenstra, is of very good quality. Carice shows that she hasn't ended up acting with Tom Cruise without merit.

The story is good, twisted and keeps you watching. The acting is good and the overall movie is completely worth your time! I for sure enjoyed watching!!

I can't believe that this is listed as a comedy. If this is what Dutch people find humorous, then I think it's safe to say that they have the worst sense of humour in the entire world. There is absolutely NOTHING funny about this film, even as a dark comedy. Sorry, but I don't think that trying to kill a baby is funny and I have a pretty f*cking twisted sense of humour. Not to mention that the main character of this film is an annoying, racist b*tch and completely unlikeable at that. In fact, all of the characters in this film are equally unlikeable and annoying. I'm not going to tell you not to watch this, but I am going to tell you not to make the mistake that I did and go into this expecting to laugh. You will not laugh. Unless of course, you're Dutch. Then I don't know, maybe you'll laugh.

An awful product.Barely watchable...the acting and directing is well.... it makes you shiver for how low the quality is .Un-be-lie-va-ble. Here in the Lowlands from time to time we have a period inwich almost every 'important 'dutch-cinema Moloch features the same cast of leading lady's..now it's time for dutch 'darling 'Carice van Houten '..this meagerly talented 'actress appears in almost every dutch thing that hits the cinema kartel....but this film scripted after a book from 'journalist 'heleen van Rooijen gave her the change to portray the worst acting achievement in years ! only maybe surpassed by her male counterpart... summary: script: midiocre-story non-interestingly portrayed - acting the worst for years to come.Non of the characters are real & alive..only awfully and superficially constructed clichés.... How can anyone take this product seriously...luckily i don't and thus had a fun time watching it !!!

Lea, played by Carice van Houten, is a stewardess married to Harry (Waldemar Torenstra) who is in the real estate business. Their life seems to be going well, they live in a nice spacious home and they have a happy marriage that they consume regularly (as shown in the first couple of minutes, keeping with the Dutch tradition). Then they decide to have a child and Lea falls into a postpartum depression...

Contrary to what IMDb might say, this is certainly not a comedy. It has some moments which light up the film, but I merely smiled when they were on screen. They were brilliant, yes, but not meant to cause a moment of hysteric laughter, something I associate with the label 'comedy'. I'd much rather label this solely as a drama and romantic film.

Carice van Houten, probably Holland's most popular actress of today (and for good reason), has delivered. She is phenomenal in every scene, whether she has to be happy living her perfect, glossed-over life before the baby, or having a difficult birth, or playing an utterly desperate woman. She's so very believable that you can't help but love her character, even though this is a difficult subject and some of her actions would be incomprehensible otherwise. It's the genius of the scriptwriter and Carice's acting that makes you understand and sympathise.

Waldemar Torentstra does his job very well, and being unfamiliar with his work I am definitely interested in seeing more of him. However, I don't know if the script asked for this but, I'd have loved to have him be a bit more extreme in some scenes. I feel like he's been holding back, and while I'm not sure if he's been asked to do so by the director I think it would have been a good decision to completely let go in some scenes, giving the film that little extra push. Having said that (I don't want to give anything away) maybe this is just a matter of personal preference.

Overall, this film gripped me in a way no other Dutch film has done for me so far. Of all films I've seen in my lifetime, this film definitely holds one of the top spots. I was blown away and would recommend it to anyone, whatever language you may speak, just get a DVD with subtitles.

I was debating whether or not to walk into this movie. I had no idea what this movie was about and I was tired and there was another movie I wanted to watch at the local film festival. Sometimes in life though...you make good decisions, and I'm so glad I took the plunge.

I have to say that the main reason to watch this film is for Carice Van Houten's wonderful performance. She covers the gamut of emotions as Lea, a happily married woman confronting her own demons and emotions after the undergoing the traumatic birth of her first child. She takes her character in directions that are totally unexpected. It is vibrant and wonderful. There is an initial prejudice, of course, in that she so very attractive, physically, but she portrays Lea so convincingly, with so many dimensions....that as the movie went along, she became even more beautiful, if that's possible. At the end of the film, you felt as if you've been cleansed.

The idea that there are so many good movies out there, so many good books, so much good art..that I have not yet encountered makes me excited. I'm so happy that there is always the possibility of finding small gems like this out there, made by people with great care, for the betterment of the world.