Friesland (North Netherlands) beginning 20th century, a man and a woman fall in love. He is Pieter Jelles Troelstra, a poet and a passionate socialist. She is destined to be a provincial middle class house wife. "Nynke" shows the struggle of a talented woman, Sjouke Bokma de Boer aka Nynke van Hichtumis, who tried to find her way from whom she was expected to be, to whom she ought to become: an independent person and author.
The film gives a rare glimpse in the family live of a last century politician and is a love story; from naive, passionate love for each other to loosing common ground in 'greater causes'. He became the co-founder of the socialist party and she was a gifted story teller and the author of a famous children's book "Aafkes tiental". During this period in history, women like Nynke were labeled with Hysteria. In fact, their unsatisfying lives lead to depression. The story gives an insight in the conflicts within her and with her environment that crossed the road to recovery, not so different from contemporary, similar topics.
The Dutch occasionally can make good period drama. This is one of them. Well done costumes, good solid acting, beautiful locations and the excellent charm that the movie is mainly in Nynke's mother-tongue: Fries, and not Dutch.
