 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2018) |
| Spetters | |
|---|---|
 Dutch film poster for Spetters | |
| Directed by | Paul Verhoeven |
| Written by | Gerard Soeteman Jan Wolkers (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Joop van den Ende |
| Starring | Hans van Tongeren Renée Soutendijk Toon Agterberg Maarten Spanjer Marianne Boyer Jeroen Krabbé Rutger Hauer |
| Cinematography | Jost Vacano |
| Edited by | Ine Schenkkan |
| Music by | Ton Scherpenzeel Kayak |
Release date |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Language | Dutch |
Spetters (English translation: Splashes) is a Dutch film released in 1980 and directed by Paul Verhoeven.[1] 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 kroket 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 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 gays,[2] Christians, the police, and the press. Although Verhoeven made one more film in the Netherlands, the response to Spetters led him to leave for Hollywood. Despite the large amount of controversy surrounding it,[2] the film proved to be popular,[3] 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 and Renee Soutendijk.[4]
The town of Maassluis was the setting for the movie.
- ^ The New York Times
- ^ a b Chen, Nick (7 March 2017). "Six of Paul Verhoeven's most controversial moments". lwlies.com. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ Smith, Adam; Williams, Owen (31 August 2016). "Triple Dutch: Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi trilogy". empireonline.com. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ Dutch Centre for international cultural activities website: Dutch cinema: less sex and violence Archived 2010-09-19 at the Wayback Machine, published 2008, visited 9 October 2010