Keetje Tippel (1975)

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers:

Neel Doff (novel)
Gerard Soeteman (writer)

Release Date:

6 March 1975 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

The young girl Keetje moves to Amsterdam in 1881 with her impoverished family, and is led into prostitution in order to survive...

Plot Keywords:

Prostitution | Money | Class Conflict | Reference To Jules Verne | Family Relationships

Cast

Monique van de Ven	...	Keetje Tippel
Rutger Hauer	...	Hugo
Andrea Domburg	...	Keetje's moeder
Hannah de Leeuwe	...	Mina, Keetje's zus
Jan Blaaser	...	Keetje's vader
Eddie Brugman	...	Andre
Peter Faber	...	George
Mart Gevers
Riet Henius
Walter Kous	...	Pierre
Tonny Popper
Jan Retèl
Fons Rademakers	...	Klant
Riek Schagen
Carry Tefsen	...	Vrouw in wasfabriek

Also Known As:

A Girl Called Katy Tippel (UK) (video title)
Cathy Tippel (USA) (promotional title)
Hot Sweat
Katie Tippel (USA) (video title)
Katie's Passion (UK) (video box title)
Keetje Tippel (USA)

Runtime:

100 min | UK:107 min | Argentina:109 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:16 (re-rating) (2007) | Netherlands:12 (re-rating) | Netherlands:16 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | UK:18 | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Rob Houwer Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner (2007) (V)

Surprisingly Thoughtful Indictment of 19th Century Capitalism

I came across this film under the title "Hot Sweat" at my local video store, and rented it out of curiosity; I had seen many movies by this director, and always thought his work was severely underated. The movie really surprised me with it's unsensationalistic style and well done cinematography. Although the female lead is very beautiful, and manages to get undressed frequently, there is always a tension to her sexuality...she is forced to rely on it only because the audience is clearly made aware that on the other side is the penniless abyss. Rutger Haur plays totally against type as a foppish young bank officer who adopts her as his mistress.

I think most people today think of Holland as a totally liberal and affluent country. This film goes a long way towards dispelling that stereotype, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a (sometimes brutally) realistic picture of 19th century life among the underclass in Amsterdamn. I liked it.