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Spetters | Year: 1980 Classification: Foreign Film - Other Directed: - Paul Verhoeven BETTER THAN EVER ON DVD.... This is a revision of my earlier concerns. "Spetters" is blissfully intact on DVD and looks better than ever. The directors' cut I had on tape didn't look this good. I was afraid it had been edited when I saw it was listed as "R" but it's unrated still and 8 minutes longer than on my tape. This film is about the lives of three young men who race motorcycles. They long to compete with their hero (Rutger Hauer) who is wealthy and famous. They come from diverse middle class backgrounds. One is abused by his violent father and bashes gay men for their money. Their lives are disrupted and changed forever by a beautiful ambitious blonde who rolls into town with her fast food wagon that she operates with her butch gay brother. Her involvement with the boys will lead to triumph and tragedy as well as sexual awakening. Renee Soutendjik walks off with the film as the golddigging blonde. She is amazingly beautiful and sensual in her earthy performance. She would play another vamp of a different kind in Verhoevens' "The 4TH Man". "Spetters" is a must see for Verhoeven fans of his earlier pre-Hollywood work. It is also sexually explicit and contains a disturbing homosexual rape scene. This scene is important to the story developement but it is graphic. Some may be put off by it. Still, "Spetters" tells a story and I can't recommend it enough for lovers of truly cinematic film. A raw, gritty human drama "Spetters," directed by Paul Verhoeven, tells the story of three young working-class Dutchmen who are into motorbike racing. Their lives are all impacted by a vivacious gold-digging blonde who rolls into town with her mobile fast food stand. Before the film ends the characters' lives take some unexpected, and even shocking, twists. The film is in Dutch with subtitles. "Spetters" is a remarkable film--a raw, gritty ensemble drama that is superbly acted. The large, multigenerational cast includes familiar faces Jeroen Krabbe (as a sleazy sportscaster) and Rutger Hauer (as a racing champ idolized by the film's young characters). This film is packed full of life and energy--from a disco dancing homage to "Saturday Night Fever," to the motorbike racing scenes, and to the shockingly graphic [physical] scenes. Also interesting is the film's exploration of religious faith and other sociological issues. The film dishes out ample servings of both humor and tragedy; the unsettling scenes of violence are offset by some moments of real sweetness and tenderness. The DVD contains a fascinating commentary track by Verhoeven. His comments offer a window not only into the making of the film, but also into 20th century Dutch society. He discusses in detail the actors, how various scenes were filmed, the challenges involved in getting the film made, the controversy the film ignited, etc. He places the film in context of his larger body of work. Often hilarious, sometimes touching, and consistently engrossing, this is a superb commentary that makes me appreciate the film even more. "Spetters" is a thought-provoking and touching film that is ultimately curiously satisfying. It drips with blood, sweat, and tears; Verhoeven never flinches from showing the human condition in both its beauty and ugliness. It's a triumph of fearless, in-your-face filmmaking, and an essential entry in Verhoeven's remarkable body of work. It's a bit like American Pie really Although having said that it has much darker tones and hasn't got the syrupy ending that most American films have when dealing with teenage lives. I got a friend from Holland to buy me this as it hasn't been released here in Ireland ( or the UK ) yet. As a result I'm listening to the whole thing in Dutch and have no subtitles to guide me along the way. But I can pick out the odd Dutch word here and there such as " godverdomme " " klootsak " and " dood ". But then I don't really need the subtitles. I can get the meaning ( or my interpretation of it ) without them such is the strength of the film. Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbe are the usual suspects in Verhoeven's Dutch movies ( which I haven't seen but for sure I'm interested in seeing ). Here they play very small parts but they play them well. Hauer is good as Gerrard Witkamp who is the idol of the three teenage wannabe dirtbike riders. He plays the role with such cockiness that you sometimes get the feeling that he IS that person. The film takes on a darker edge when one of the bikers who had just got a contract from Honda sees his career ruined when a German tourist ( this is what it's supposed to be they say - for all I know it could have been another Dutch person ) absent mindedly throws out rubbish out of his car window and leads the biker off road. His career is ruined and effectively feels that his life has become worthless The gang rape scene is one of the most explicit depictions of gang rape for it's time. And it's amazing to think that in Holland you can get this on a 12 certificate while here in Ireland you'd be lucky to get an 18 certificate. But needless to say you have to a bit of a strong stomach for it all. There are some obvious scenes as well such as the boys measuring up to see who has the bigger penis. And there's one where......Nah I shouldn't say more. I'd end up ruining the film for you and that's not what you want But when the film plunges into so much darkness you are kinda confused at how it could come into such a happy ending. It's not a syrupy happy ending with loads of schmaltz added on.....it just IS a happy ending. A sort of signal to say " Life goes on. C'est la vie " Buy Spetters at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Spetters Search with the Priority Search Engine on Spetters This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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