by Clarke Fountain
synopsis
Beginning in the early 1900s, this story follows the life of Belle (Wivineke van Groningen) from the time she was a rebellious teenager in her wealthy but stodgy, emotionally cool parents' home. As soon as she is able to, she hares off on her own, setting up housekeeping with Marthe, a female servant of the family's whom she has a lesbian relationship with. However, she doesn't like feeling dependent upon the older woman and her expertise in handling their affairs. Instead, she runs off and, step by step, she rebuilds exactly the kind of life she fled until she is an old, emotionally cool woman with her own rebellious children. Not until then does she realize what has happened. She has, in effect, become her parents.
