Nouchka Van Brakel Trilogy

The Debut (Het Debuut) (1977)

Teenager Carolien Sanders (Marina de Graff) had always been fond of her parents’ unhappily married friend Hugo (Gerard Cox). As that fondness grew into a relationship and physical affair, their life experience gap and the tensions of maintaining secrecy would guarantee an ill-fated conclusion. Controversial early effort from director Nouchka van Brakel, adapted from the Hester Albach novella, co-stars Pleuni Touw, Kitty Courbois, Dolf de Vries. 94 min. In Dutch with English subtitles. C/Rtg: NR

A Woman Like Eve (Een Vrouw Als Eva) (1979)

Unfulfilled Amsterdam mother of two Eve (Monique van de Ven) was sent off by her husband Ad (Peter Faber) on a Paris vacation in a bid to lift her spirits. Her paths crossed with the commune-dwelling feminist Liliane (Maria Schneider)...and the friendship that was sparked grew into an attraction that would alter the course of both their lives. Nouchka van Brakel’s affecting romantic opus also stars Marijke Merckens, Renée Soutendijk. 103 min. In Dutch with English subtitles. C/Rtg: NR

The Cool Lakes Of Death (Van De Koele Meren Des Doods) (1982)

In the Netherlands of the late 19th-century, well-to-do Hedwig (Renée Soutendijk) attempts suicide twice before leaving her sexless marriage to Gerard (Adriaan Olree) for a passionate affair with Ritsaart (Derek de Lint). But Hedwig’s happiness is short-lived as she turns to prostitution after struggling with addiction and mental illness in the wake of her newborn child’s death. With Erik van 't Wout, Peter Faber; based on the novel by Frederik van Eeden. 125 min. In Dutch with English subtitles. C/Rtg: NR

Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: Dutch DTS HD mono Master Audio, LPCM mono; Subtitles: English; interview; newsreel footage; theatrical trailers; poster galleries; photo galleries.