17th century Dutch period dramas have started to become a bit fashionable in recent years with the likes of The Miniaturist picking up book awards for fun, building on the past success of The Girl With The Pearl Earring, and the latest new addition to the trend is Tulip Fever, starring Christoph Waltz, Alicia Vikander and Judy Dench. It is the film adaptation of Deborah Moggach’s 1999 novel of the same name and sees love and power collide in the heat of Amsterdam’s tulip mania and the riches that it bought to the city.
Release date
Though an official release date hasn’t been announced as of yet, it’s expected to come out some time in 2015, bringing the vivid colour of the Dutch capital’s history of art, flowers and trade to the big screen. With the setting and type of film it’s shaping up to be, we’re estimating that it will get a late summer/early autumn release and with such prestigious names behind it and the success of other similar dramas it should go on general release in both the UK and us.
Storyline
The plot for the film sees young artist, Jan Van Loos, falling for Sofia, the wife of Cornelius, a rich flower merchant, when he is commissioned to paint the couple’s portrait. As their youthful passion starts to solidify, they hatch a plan to get in on the volatile tulip market dealings to come up with the means to escape to a new life together. However, their deception isn’t without its inherent risks as the drama builds to its conclusion.
Cast
In addition to Christoph Waltz (SPECTRE), who plays the wealthy husband, Cornelius, Alicia Vikander (Ex-Machina) as the young wife, and Dame Judy Dench (Esio Trot Movie) as a The Abbess of St. Ursula, the cast also includes Dana De Hanne (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) as the young painter, as well as Jack O’Connell (’71) and Zach Galifianakis (Birdman). It also stars Holliday Grainger, model Cara Delavingne (Pan (2015)), Glee‘s Matthew Morrison and Homeland‘s David Harewood (Killzone: Shadowfall).
Production
Justin Chadwick directs the romantic drama, following up on his previous period film, The Other Boleyn Girl back in 2008. Tulip Fever has been adapted by Peter Chelsom and produced by Alison Owen and Molly Conners. Worldview Entertainment are behind the production with the Weinstein Company (Macbeth (2015)) taking on the distribution duties.
First Impressions
It’s a pretty impressive cast that’s been confirmed for the film, so based on that alone, Tulip Fever could be one of the surprise hits of 2015. Added to that is the fact that Justin Chadwick has already has some success in the period drama genre not too long ago with The Other Boleyn Girl, and that Deborah Moggach’s work has been adapted for the big screen before in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, so all signs are positive at the moment.
