According to Dutch director Mike van Diem, the film received more positive reviews in the United States than in its native Netherlands, saying "We thought it was a good film, but nobody thought it was "that" good". Dutch writer Hans Kroon suggested the U.S. reception was out of a need for escapism. Roger Ebert gave the film four stars, saying the film showed "the everyday realities of rural life, a cheerful feminism, a lot of easygoing sex and a gallery of unforgettable characters". Emanuel Levy, writing for "The Advocate", wrote "It's easy to see why" the film was winning awards in festivals, calling it "an enchanting fairy tale that maintains a consistently warm, lighthearted feel", and Willeke van Ammelrooy wonderful. Janet Maslin of "The New York Times" called it "a work of magical feminism". Alan A. Stone of the "Boston Review" called it an "astonishingly beautiful film" representing "a truce in the gender war". Kevin Thomas of the "Los Angeles Times" said "Antonia's Line" is "Beautiful, tender, hearty and poetic", and Van Ammelrooy is warm. Conversely, Edward Guthmann of the "San Francisco Chronicle" called the film "an odd mix of schmaltz and anti-male orneriness" and the character of Antonia a "sour pickle". Jonathan Rosenbaum of the "Chicago Reader" called it "humorless" "feminist rage".