Tulip Fever

A 2017 historical romantic drama directed by Justin Chadwick, with a screenplay by Deborah Moggach and Tom Stoppard, adapted from Moggach's novel of the same name. Set in 17th-century Amsterdam during the period of "tulip mania," the story follows Sophia (Alicia Vikander), an orphan who marries the wealthy and much older spice merchant Cornelis Sandvoort (Christoph Waltz) in hopes of a secure life. Their marriage is childless and lacking affection. Cornelis commissions a young artist, Jan van Loos (Dane DeHaan), to paint their portrait, leading to a passionate affair between Jan and Sophia. The lovers plan to escape together, aiming to profit from the booming tulip market. Meanwhile, the maid Maria (Holliday Grainger) becomes pregnant by her lover Willem (Jack O’Connell), who, mistakenly believing Maria has been unfaithful, descends into despair and is forcibly conscripted into the navy. To conceal Maria's pregnancy, Sophia fakes her own death, allowing Maria to present the child as hers. The plan unravels tragically: Cornelis, devastated, departs for the colonies, and Sophia, burdened by guilt, retreats to a convent. Years later, Jan, now a successful painter, encounters Sophia living in seclusion at the convent. The film delves into themes of love, betrayal, social ambition, and the consequences of deception against the backdrop of historical events and economic speculation.