Spetters (1980)

Several Dutch teenagers realize the cruel difference between dreams and reality.

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

Three young Dutch amateur dirt bike motorcycle racers each fall in love with a young woman who, with her brother, works at a concession stand at the races. Everyone is looking for a better life. The young woman 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:

explicit sex | male nudity | penis size | measuring penis | male rape | 

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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:

VSE Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Verhoeven: [religious imagery] In one scene, a character is shot from a low angle, with a light bulb creating a halo around his head (c.f. Flesh+Blood (1985)).

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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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Alternate Versions

Passed uncut by the BBFC in 2004

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Connections

Referenced in Verhoeven Versus Verhoeven (2016)

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Soundtracks

Chiquitita
Written by Björn 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.