Marie Verstraete

The film De Storm des Levens, also known as The Storm in Life, from 1920, is a five-part drama performed by members of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg. This film adaptation of a stage play is considered the first Flemish feature film. Although the film was not of outstanding quality, it is of great historical importance. A man with a small motorboat ferries passengers across the Scheldt. He marries an inn servant for her money. A dockworker, who is her lover, refuses to let this happen and plans to murder the groom.

Juultje, the most beautiful girl in Volendam and daughter of the strict innkeeper Barendse, sparks a scandal at the village fair when she dances against her father’s rules. She meets Sander, the wealthy son of a shipping magnate, and they fall in love, planning to run away to Brussels. Meanwhile, Piet, a loyal friend secretly in love with her, leaves for Canada to improve his future. In Brussels, Juultje and Sander live in luxury until Sander abandons her. Heartbroken, she returns to the Netherlands and finds work in Amsterdam. Years later, she reconciles with her father before her mother’s death. Piet returns, and at last, Juultje and Piet marry, beginning a new life together.