Spetters (1980)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writer:

Gerard Soeteman (scenario)

Release Date:

28 February 1980 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Plot:

A Dutch film, post-Saturday Night Fever, which follows the lives of three young men who are amateur dirt-bike motorcycle racers...

Plot Keywords:

Motorcycle | French Fries | Accident | Wheelchair | Love

Cast

Hans van Tongeren	...	Rien
Renée Soutendijk	...	Fientje
Toon Agterberg	...	Eef
Maarten Spanjer	...	Hans
Marianne Boyer	...	Maya
Peter Tuinman	...	Jaap
Saskia Ten Batenburg	...	Truus
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

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | Norway:18 (cut) (1983) | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | Netherlands:16 | Canada:R | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Argentina:18 | UK:18 (video re-rating) (uncut) (2004) | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2005) | West Germany:18 (original rating) (1980) | Finland:K-16 (1995)

Filming Locations:

Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Endemol Entertainment

Trivia:

The film's title comes from a now disused Dutch slang term meaning "hot shot" or "hunk".

Movie Connections:

References Grease (1978)

Soundtrack:

Eagle

Some are talented, some are lucky, and some don't survive

Three young men with aspirations of becoming like their motorcycle riding hero played by Rutger Hauer meet varying fates in this harsh, but ultimately hopeful film.

The lesson of this movie seems to be that everyone will get screwed, either literally, figuratively, or both, and you can either roll with the punches or throw in the towel. I rented it because it was directed by Paul Paul Verhoeven and includes, but does not feature, Rutger Hauer. It's not the best Paul Verhoeven film from his pre-Hollywood era, which I consider to be Der Vierde Man. It's not the best Rutger Hauer film from his pre-Hollywood era either, which is probably Soldier of Orange. So why should you see this film?

It's got very little action. There is sex, but besides one of the most brutal rape scenes you're likely to see on screen this week (or this decade), it's not something that would draw most people into watching the movie. The film is not quick by any means, and at 115 minutes is a bit over drawn. I don't recall the cinematography as anything special, and, unless you can find the sub-titled director's cut no longer in print, you'll have to contend with dubbing if you can even find this movie at all.

So why watch this movie? Because deep, deep down in the story is buried a very simple theme that can escape a person when they are in the middle of the anguish of their own life: even after you've been beaten, bloodied, and bruised by life you can find happiness instead of despair--or not, as is the case with at least one of the characters.