The Miniaturist

This is the Seigneur's new wife.

What did Brandt get you for a wedding gift?

"Dear Sir, I have a house of nine rooms on a miniature scale.

"Thank you for the items I requested.

"However, I made no request for a cradle."

You look wonderful.

The feast. Was it his idea?

We agreed it was appropriate you should attend.

Go to bed.

I'm... not tired.

I think you'd better leave, before one of us

- says something we both regret. - No, Johannes, I know...

Go, get out!

What made you like this?

Nothing made me.

It was in my soul from the beginning.

Do you know what we saw?

How your husband takes his vile pleasures... with a boy.

You have to go. You have to leave now.

What is it? Marin...

No. Aaarh!

My God, Marin. What have you done?

What were you thinking, Marin?

A girl in Assendelft died trying to lose a baby with poison.

How far gone are you?

Six, seven months.

Perhaps more.

How did you hide it?

I let out my skirts and bound my breasts.

Soaked my rags in animal blood so Cornelia wouldn't suspect.

Tell me. Is it Frans's?

He was just angry about the sugar, Marin.

He loves you. Tell him about this.

Once he knows, he will not harm Johannes

because he knows it will endanger his child.

You don't understand.

If he survives, this child will be... stained.

With his mother's sin, with his father's sin.

SHE SOBS

It's a baby. Not a devil.

Animal blood on her rags to fool us. She always was clever.

The crib...

Did you know?

No, of course not.

Then why is the doll of Madame Marin carrying a child?

What are you talking about?

How could you betray us like this? You know how rumour spreads.

I didn't order it. It just came.

Then who is it that is spying on us?

I don't think she's a spy. She?

She sees our lives.

I think she's trying to help us, trying to warn us...

How has she helped us? The Seigneur is gone. Otto, too,

and now Marin carries the shame of the man who wishes to destroy us.

Look.

This was white when it arrived.

This is witchcraft.

She's not a witch.

How dare she send you things like this?

What else does she know?

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Open up!

It's the Militia.

Marin, they cannot see you like this.

Especially Frans. Cornelia!

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Open up!

We've come for Johannes Brandt.

He is not here, Seigneur. He's travelling.

Don't lie. We know he's here.

You don't want to make a fuss on your doorstep.

Good day.

Frans, tell them.

It's out of my hands.

We're here under the jurisdiction of Schout Slabbaert.

A young man has been attacked on the Eastern Islands

and there are witnesses to back it up.

- Now go and fetch your master. - I said, good day.

I told you. He's not here!

Frans, all of you. You are better than this.

Go and catch your thieves, your murderers.

My husband has helped make this republic great.

What he is, is a sodomite.

And all the money in Amsterdam won't save him.

Now get out of my way. Search the house.

Frans. Search every room!

Frans.

Frans, please.

Listen to me!

Sir! Sir! They found him!

They found him! Where?

On a ship by the docks, about to set sail.

They're taking him to the Stadhuis now!

To the Stadhuis.

Madame, Madame, you cannot!

Let go of me, Cornelia!

No, I really... I will not hear of... You need to stay.

You can't go, Madame, please!

Cornelia's right.

If you follow them, you'll be arrested as well.

Where is your heart, Marin? I would never abandon my brother.

To fight them in the open is to invite certain defeat.

Then I will find another way.

How do I look?

Like a serving girl on an errand.

You really think a disguise is necessary?

If the Burgomasters find out his wife is trying to deal in sugar,

who knows what they will do?

I still don't think you should go to the Eastern Islands alone.

Johannes is in a cell.

And you need to stay here with Marin.

We may be able to bribe Jack to change his story.

I will visit Johannes afterwards, if they let me in.

Is there a message you would like me to send?

There's nothing I can say.

Marin...

Hope is dangerous.

Hope is all we have.

Hope and sugar.

Bribing officials?

We need all the friends we can get.

Thank you. They seem to think food is an option here.

What have they done to you?

It's nothing.

Tell me, was it love?

I don't know.

By telling me lies, he made me see the truth.

The way sometimes a painting is more beautiful than the thing itself.

It was a painting of love.

But I couldn't tell the difference, nor did I care to.

You can fight this, Johannes.

You're powerful, rich.

You said it yourself, the Burgomasters cannot touch you.

They have a name for it. "The unmentionable sin."

Two men together, an act which only God has power to forgive.

To do nothing would be to condone it.

Then we make Frans Meermans change his mind.

I have let his anger stew,

and now he is determined to take his revenge. Jack, then.

Nella...

I'll pay him off. Nella!

It won't make any difference.

What if we had a child?

To prove the lie.

And where are we going to get one of those in a couple of weeks?

I'm glad you came, Nella.

I don't deserve you.

I wish I'd been enough.

You have been a miracle.

Rezecki.

I take her everywhere I go.

The red's gone. From the wound.

I don't understand.

Must have worn it off.

What on earth...?

Madame Marin ordered it. It came in a big crate today.

It's the same as the one the Miniaturist sent me.

I know.

DOOR OPENS

Marin, what were you thinking?

If any of the neighbours saw this arrive, what would they think?

The same as you.

I know you want this child for yourself.

Marin, that's not true.

But it would be convenient, no?

Well...

So what if we did pretend the child was mine?

Would that be so awful?

It would prove that Johannes has the same desires as other men.

Don't you want him to live?

This child will be far from convenient.

But no-one will take it away from me. No-one.

It's kicking me.

We'll need a midwife soon.

Do you know the law?

A midwife must write down the name of the father.

If we don't tell her she'll report that, too.

Talk to Frans, Marin.

Tell him about his child.

You speak of things of which you know nothing.

Do you want to know the truth?

Johannes stopped my marriage.

But it wasn't his decision.

It was mine. I told him to.

You?

By the time I was a woman, I ran this household,

and with Johannes away, I was the head of it.

Was I supposed to give up my freedom for a man?

I thought it a kindness to let Frans believe I was forbidden

than to know I didn't love him enough to sacrifice my liberty.

I never meant it to twist this way.

It is his child you're carrying, though.

Isn't it?

I have taken things from my brother I was not meant to take.

Don't let sweet weapons stray.

Hannah!

Hannah!

I hadn't expected there to be so much.

Imagine it transformed into guilders.

Some of it is rotten.