[2] The film begins in 1881 at Stavoren, a small Dutch rural town in the province of Friesland, and follows Katie's family to Amsterdam, where they hope to escape grinding poverty by finding work.

She finds a job at a hat shop, where, during a business trip to a brothel, she discovers her older sister Mina working there.

It is unclear whether this occurs, but on her discharge Katie rejoins her family and discovers her father has been sacked and her sister is too drunk to sleep with clients.

Her second client, an artist called George, takes her to his studio to pose for a painting depicting a Socialist revolution.

After being exposed in a coffee shop, and as a result, hot chocolate is thrown in her face, Katie tells Hugo she will not do his dirty work anymore.

The film was to feature an epilogue set several years in the future where Katie, now married to Andre, would be sat reading.

As the noise from those starving in the street becomes unbearable, Katie rises and closes the open window to shut out the sound.

Gerard Soeteman's original script for the film was substantially longer, Katie's journey mirroring the growth of Socialism in the Netherlands during the late 19th century.

Owing to budgetary restrictions from the Dutch Government and Rob Houwer many of the more lavish scenes were cut, placing the emphasis less upon the period the film is set than upon Katie herself.

Only years later when a CD was released with the collected works of Van Otterloo, the music of the opening titles became available in mono from the film's soundtrack.