Van de koele meren des doods is a Dutch film, directed by Nouchka van Brakel and based on the same-named novel by Frederik van Eeden. The film was selected as the Dutch entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 55th Academy Awards , but was not accepted as a nominee. The film begins in Hedwig is a girl from an upper-middle-class family.
She is mainly interested in reading Alice in Wonderland in English. This was first read to her by her mother before she died from typhoid fever.
During a visit to her mother's grave she meets Johan, a young man who is very smitten with her. She has sexual fantasies about him and is unable to hide this from her strictly religious family. Her governess tells her that she is sinning and she won't be able to get children anymore. Humiliated, she tries to commit suicide but fails. Three years later Hedwig is a lady and again meets Johan, now a poor aspiring artist. He wants to marry her but she thinks that she will make him unhappy, and instead marries a notary called Gerard.
Their marriage is without passion as her husband is attracted to men. Her resulting unhappiness soon manifests itself as sickness. On the advice of her doctor Gerard finally tries to have sex with his wife. This turns out to be a disappointing and traumatic experience. She admits to her friend Leonora that she finds life too boring and predictable.
One day she gets a letter from Johan, who accuses her of being a prostitute. When she goes to meet up with him she finds his corpse after he has shot himself.
