This is a small Dutch film featuring a powerhouse performance from one of the very best actresses in the world today. Carice van Houten first came to my attention in the best film of 2007, “Black Book”. Since then, she has been one of my favorite performers. She is the housewife in question… a housewife who seemingly lives a blissful life until a complicated pregnancy and delivery throws her completely off kilter. She spirals into a gripping depression which culminates in a bizarre attempt on her newborn’s life. Fearing for the safety of his child, her husband has her committed to an institution where she slowly comes to terms with the source of her sadness and she sets about tying to rectify the devastating illness. Carice van Houten is epically good — she plays the sex kitten, the loving wife, the detached mother, the confused patient, the desperate daughter, the determined woman — it is a demanding role. This movie will not be easy to find for casual filmgoers… Adding it to your DVD queue will likely be the only way to watch it. However, it is well worth a try… especially for anyone who has been affected by postpartum depression.
