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This is a very beautifull, good acted and realistic movie. Drama and yes, tears will apear too.

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.

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.

In The Netherlands there was quite a buzz around this movie. Unfortunately, this means that it's virtually impossible to see it without any prejudice. For instance, most people know that it's Reinout Oerlemans' first movie as a director, how the story goes and how it ends. I'd rather seen the film not knowing the above.

Having said that, I think it's a pretty good movie. It has a good story behind it, but it translated pretty well to the big screen. What I really like is how Stijn's business-life looks like, how his doubts are portrayed and how the suffering of the characters is brought to life. I do think that the relationship of Stijn and Carmen is portrayed a little bit superficial, focusing primarily on physical attraction and the business connection. The emotional link between the two could have gotten more attention in the first part. But that's the only major point of critique. In the end, it's not about what attracts Stijn and Carmen emotionally, it's how they both deal with Carmen's cancer and the impact it has on their lives. And that part, I feel, is brought to life pretty well in this movie.

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.