''Spetters'' (English translation: ''Splashes'') is a Dutch film released in 1980 and directed by
Paul Verhoeven
Paul Verhoeven (; born 18 July 1938) is a Dutch director, producer and screenwriter, active in the Netherlands, France and the United States. His blending of graphic violence and sexual content with social satire is a trademark of both his dram ...
. The film follows the lives of three young men who have little in common but their love for
dirt-bike racing. Set on the outskirts of Rotterdam, the film depicts three characters who are hoping to escape a dead-end, working-class existence.
Each of the boys is seduced by a young woman who, with her brother, sells French fries and hot dogs at the races. She is looking for the person who will help her get out of the business and away from her brother. The
motocross
Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom.
History
Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competi ...
racers want to make their marks as professional racers, but their hopes don't go according to their plans.
''Spetters'' led to protests about how Verhoeven portrayed
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...
s,
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
, the police, and the press. Although Verhoeven made one more film in the Netherlands, the response to ''Spetters'' led him to leave for
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood, ...
. Despite the large amount of controversy surrounding it,
the film proved to be popular,
with 1,124,162 admissions in the Netherlands alone.
The film was a small success in the United States, and it helped launch the Hollywood careers of Verhoeven and some of the actors, including
Jeroen Krabbé,
Rutger Hauer
Rutger Oelsen Hauer (; 23 January 1944 – 19 July 2019) was a Dutch actor. In 1999, he was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century.
Hauer's career began in 1969 with the title role in the Dutch television series ' ...
and
Renee Soutendijk.
[Dutch Centre for international cultural activities website]
Dutch cinema: less sex and violence
, published 2008, visited 9 October 2010
The town of
Maassluis
Maassluis () is a city in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of in and covered of which was water.
It received city rights in 1811.
History
Maassluis was founded circa 1340 as a se ...
was the setting for the movie.
Plot
Two young
motocross
Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom.
History
Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competi ...
racers, Rien (
Hans van Tongeren
Johannes Adrianus Maria (Hans) van Tongeren (18 January 1955, Breda – 25 August 1982, Amsterdam) was a Dutch movie actor, who made his debut in the 1980 Paul Verhoeven movie '' Spetters''.
Van Tongeren was born in Breda and was recommended to ...
) and Hans (Maarten Spanjer), and their mechanic, Eef (Toon Agterberg), dream of fame, fortune and casual sex. Their hero is legendary motocross champion Gerrit Witkamp (
Rutger Hauer
Rutger Oelsen Hauer (; 23 January 1944 – 19 July 2019) was a Dutch actor. In 1999, he was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century.
Hauer's career began in 1969 with the title role in the Dutch television series ' ...
), who inspires their competitive rides. Their lives are changed when they meet a young seductress named Fientje (
Renée Soutendijk). Eventually, she makes the three men face the reality of success, defeat and homosexuality.
Cast
*
Hans van Tongeren
Johannes Adrianus Maria (Hans) van Tongeren (18 January 1955, Breda – 25 August 1982, Amsterdam) was a Dutch movie actor, who made his debut in the 1980 Paul Verhoeven movie '' Spetters''.
Van Tongeren was born in Breda and was recommended to ...
as Rien
*
Renée Soutendijk as Fientje
* Toon Agterberg as Eef
* Maarten Spanjer as Hans
* Marianne Boyer as Maya
* Peter Tuinman as Jaap
* Saskia van Basten-Batenburg (credited as Saskia Ten Batenburg) as Truus
* Yvonne Valkenburg as Annette
* Ab Abspoel (credited as Albert Abspoel) as Rien's Father
*
Rudi Falkenhagen as Hans' Father
* Hans Veerman as Eef's Father
* Ben Aerden as Elderly Homosexual
*
Kitty Courbois
Catharina Anna Petronella Antonia "Kitty" Courbois (13 July 1937 – 11 March 2017) was a Dutch actress. In 2010 she was awarded the Medal of Merit.
Filmography
References
External links
*
1937 births
2017 deaths
Dutch actresses
...
as Doctor
* Margot Keune as Girl On Moped
* Jonna Koster as Gerrit's Wife
* Gees Linnebank as Homosexual
* Hugo Metsers as a Hell's Angel
* Peter Oosthoek as Priest
*
Jeroen Krabbé as Frans Henkhof
*
Rutger Hauer
Rutger Oelsen Hauer (; 23 January 1944 – 19 July 2019) was a Dutch actor. In 1999, he was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century.
Hauer's career began in 1969 with the title role in the Dutch television series ' ...
as Gerrit Witkamp
* Bruni Heinke as Mother In Car
* Herman Vinck as Driver
Title
"''Spetter''" (plural: "''spetters''") means 'good looking boy or girl', comparable to the American
hunk and
babe
Babe or babes may refer to:
* Babe, a term of endearment
* A newborn baby
* An attractive (especially female) person
People Nickname
* Babe Adams (1882–1968), American Major League Baseball pitcher
* Babe Barna (1917–1972), American Maj ...
. It also means "splatters" and thereby refers to dirt splattering up while motorcrossing as well as the oil splattering when Soutendijk's character lowers the chips into the frying pan at the chips stall where she works.
Film rating
* The film is classified as
R18 in New Zealand.
References
External links
*
*
*
Symbolic Power and Religious Impotence in Paul Verhoeven’s Spettersin ''Journal of Religion and Film'', October 2003
{{Paul Verhoeven
1980 films
Dutch coming-of-age films
1980s Dutch-language films
Films directed by Paul Verhoeven
Dutch LGBT-related films
1980 LGBT-related films
Motorcycle racing films
Dutch erotic drama films
1980s erotic drama films
Films set in the Netherlands
Dutch sports films
Dutch teen films
1980 drama films