Film Review

Jennifer K Mahal

What happens when all of the things in life that you’re told are

supposed to make you happy don’t? What happens when you start to deny who

you are because it’s not what’s expected of you? Those are some of the

central questions addressed in “Nynke,” writer/director Pieter Verhoeff’s

film based on the life of Dutch children’s book author Nynke van Hitchum.

The period drama in Dutch and Frisian with English subtitles follows

the life of Nynke, whose real name was Sjoukje Bokma de Boer (Monique

Hendrickx), through her romance with Pieter Jelles Troelstra (Jeroen

Willems). Everything starts well, the happy couple marry and have a

child, and Nynke writes for a magazine. But then Nynke gets pregnant

again, and Troelstra gets involved with the Socialist movement, which

changes their lives drastically. Swept by politics, Troelstra stops

paying attention to his wife, who no longer has the writing career she

once sought.

Trapped in what seems from the outside to be an ideal family life,

Nynke slowly breaks down from stress, is diagnosed as “hysterical” and

sent to an institution. She gets out, but finding her way back to her

life and real sanity proves to be difficult.

“Nynke” is compelling, especially when it speaks to the role of women

in 19th century Dutch society. The acting is wonderful, even in a foreign

language, and the direction crisp. Watching Nynke and her struggles make

you realize that women have come a long way in the past 100-plus years.

* “Nynke” will play at 11 a.m. Saturday at Edwards Island 2, 999

Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, with an encore screening 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday at Edwards Island 1, 999 Newport Center Drive.