a film by Digna Sinke

Belle van Zuylen (1740-1805) wrote her first novella when she was 23. She married Charles-Emanuel de Charrière and accompanied him to Switserland. Belle only resumed writing in 1784. She published several novels, pamphlets and plays. Many of her letters have been preserved and provide an insight into her and her age.

In 1787 Belle van Zuylen (Will van Kralingen) settles in Paris to escape the oppressive Swiss surroundings of her husband De Charrière (Kees van Hulst). There she meets the much younger Benjamin Constant (Laus Steenbeeke). An intense friendship develops between them which will eventually symbolise the development of the French Revolution. However their contact in Paris is abruptly interrupted when Benjamin Constant leaves for England, fleeing creditors and his father. Belle returns disappointed to Switserland.
Months later Benjamin Constant suddenly turns up on her doorstep. He spends some time in the De Charrière household to recover from an illness. Belle is very glad to have him around. But Benjamin's father does everything to shorten his stay. In the end, Benjamin leaves to take up a position as chamberlain at the court of Brunswick. The friendship between Belle and Constant has to be persued by letter.
Difficult times dawn when Belle's maid Henriëtte (Patty Pontier) turns out to be pregnant and won't say who the father is. Belle defends her and manages to prevent Henriëtte from being banished.
Despite all kinds of plans to settle nearby for good, Benjamin consistently fails to come. Belle becomes increasingly depressed.
One fine winter evening he is suddenly standing in front of her, as if in a dream. He has become more mature. There friendships deepens but not for long. It is as if Benjamin recoils in the face of the consequences and runs away from her.
They continue to exchange letters, but their differences of opinion deepen.
Their friendship comes to an end and when Benjamin becomes acquainted with Germaine de Staël (Carly Hardy). He elects for a new life, a political career in Paris, with germaine.
Belle stays on in Switserland, but she continues to write.

cast:
Belle van Zuylen: Will van Kralingen
Benjamin Constant: Laus Steenbeeke

and:
Kees Hulst, Patty Pontier, Carla Hardy, Marieke van Leeuwen, Joke van Leeuwen, Krijn ter Braak, Kitty Courbois, Truus te Selle, Arthur Boni, Ed Bauer and Mirjam de Rooij

crew:
script/directing: Digna Sinke
camera: Goert Giltaij
sound: Jac Vleeshouwers
art director: Vincent de Pater
costumes: Jany Temine
hair & make-up: Willie Gallis
wigs: Sjoerd Didden
editor: Menno Boerema
production manager: Ineke van Gulik
producers: René Scholten en Rolf Orthel
line-producer: René Scholten

1993
108 minutes
35 mm, DVD

<filmography