Een schitterend gebrek

In 2003, Arthur Japin published the novel Een schitterend gebrek (A Beautiful Imperfection), a compelling love story about ladies' man Giacomo Casanova and Lucia, his first and greatest love. Soon plans were forged to film the story; in 2008, Stephen Fry had bought the rights, but a film adaptation never materialised. In 2015, photographer Erwin Olaf appeared to be working on it, but health problems thwarted his directorial debut. Plans were revived in 2020, this time with Michiel van Erp in the director's chair. Olaf remained attached to this film adaptation as executive producer.

Italy, 18th century: after an enchanting encounter, Lucia and Casanova promise each other eternal fidelity. During one of Casanova's business trips, Lucia is struck by smallpox, after which she closes herself off from everything and everyone with her face scarred by the disease. Sixteen years later, she has reinvented herself as the veiled courtesan Galathée. In Amsterdam, she meets Casanova and once again love flares up. Does she have the courage to take off the veil?