''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 competiti ...

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 ...

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'' (Χρ� ...

, 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) * Hollywoo ...

. 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 Jeroen Aart Krabbé (; born 5 December 1944) is a Dutch actor and film director with a successful career in both Dutch and English-language films. He is best known to international audiences for his leading roles in the Paul Verhoeven films ''So ...

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 ...

was the setting for the movie.

Plot

Two young

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 (

), who inspires their competitive rides. Their lives are changed when they meet a young seductress named Fientje (

Renée Soutendijk Renette Pauline Soutendijk (, born 21 May 1957), known professionally as Renée Soutendijk, is a Dutch actress. A gymnast in her youth, Soutendijk began her acting career in the late 1970s. She was a favorite star of director Paul Verhoeven's fil ...

). Eventually, she makes the three men face the reality of success, defeat and homosexuality.

Cast

as Rien *

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 Rudolf Johan Falkenhagen (26 May 1933 – 26 January 2005) was a Dutch actor. He is best known for portraying the role of Snuf in the television series ''Pipo de Clown Pipo de Clown is a character created by writer and artist Wim Meuldijk, whic ...

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 *

as Frans Henkhof *

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 Spetters
in ''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