Cara Delevingne stars in a scene from the movie "Tulip Fever." The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (CNS/The Weinstein Company)

By Catholic News Service

Deborah Moggach’s 1999 novel is the basis for this period drama set in 17th-century Amsterdam, directed by Justin Chadwick.

The abbess (Judi Dench) of a convent arranges a marriage between a young orphan (Alicia Vikander) and a wealthy merchant (Christoph Waltz), eager for a son and heir. Their union is childless, and made more complicated by the arrival of a struggling artist (Dane DeHaan), who falls for the comely subject of his painting. Despite a handsome cast, lavish sets, and a script by no less than Tom Stoppard, the film never transcends above a bodice-ripping soap opera, venturing dangerously close to soft-porn territory. Mercifully, some consciences do prevail in the end.

Frequent premarital, marital and adulterous sex scenes, full nudity, unflattering references to religion. The Catholic News Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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