Spetters (1980)

A Dutch film, post-Saturday Night Fever, which follows the lives of three young men who are amateur dirt-bike motorcycle racers. They each fall in love with a young woman who, with her ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writer:

Gerard Soeteman (scenario)

Stars:

Hans van Tongeren, Renée Soutendijk, Toon Agterberg

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hans van Tongeren	...	Rien
Renée Soutendijk	...	Fientje
Toon Agterberg	...	Eef
Maarten Spanjer	...	Hans
Marianne Boyer	...	Maya
Peter Tuinman	...	Jaap
Saskia van Basten-Batenburg	...	Truus (as Saskia Ten Batenburg)
Yvonne Valkenburg	...	Annette
Ab Abspoel	...	Rien's vader (as Albert Abspoel)
Rudi Falkenhagen	...	Hans' vader
Hans Veerman	...	Eef's vader
Ben Aerden	...	Oude Homosexueel
Kitty Courbois	...	Doctor
Margot Keune	...	Meisje op bromfiets
Jonna Koster	...	Gerrit's vrouw

Storyline

A Dutch film, post-Saturday Night Fever, which follows the lives of three young men who are amateur dirt-bike motorcycle racers. They each fall in love with a young woman who, with her brother, sells French fries and hot dogs at the races. Everyone is looking for a better life. She wants out of the business and away from her brother. The motocross racers want to make their marks as professional racers, like their hero, played by Rutger Hauer.

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Plot Keywords:

motocross | accident | love | gay | dirt bike | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Release Date:

28 February 1980 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Descontrol

Filming Locations:

Burgwal, Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Company Credits

Production Co:

Endemol Entertainment, VSE Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first film Paul Verhoeven made that was not an adaptation of a novel.

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Goofs

After the rape scene in the metro, Jaap (brother of Fientje) gives Eef his shoe back, holding it at the heel side. But when the scene changes to a different angle he is holding the shoe at the nose side.

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Connections

References Saturday Night Fever (1977)

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Soundtracks

"Chiquitita"
Written by 'Bjorn Ulvaeus' & Benny Andersson
Performed by ABBA
Courtesy of Polar Music

User Reviews

One of the earliest "fast" dutch movies

rating 8/10

Spetters in dutch has two meanings: "splashes" (of grease, dirt or blood) and "pretty people/hunk".

This movie is quick. To me it's enjoyable as an action movie, but also as a movie like "easy rider", depicting bikers' life in holland of the late 70's. It wouldn't be dutch if there ain't some tits'n'ass in it. But I don't think the movie evolves around it. It deals much more with choices, luck and destiny everyone makes. And that's the reason why i think it's a good movie. Beyond the action sequences there's a moral to be found. I think the story shows many stereotypes of people and let's them all interact realistically. That's the true strength of this movie. and always keep in mind: it's dutch, and up to that time, there were not many action movies made in holland. shortly after this movie Paul Verhoeven went to Hollywood, to my knowledge partly because of the bad dutch criticism to this movie.