Turks fruit (1973)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers:

Gerard Soeteman (writer)
Jan Wolkers (novel)

Release Date:

September 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Plot:

Sort of a cross between "Love Story" and an earthy Rembrandt painting, this movie stars Rutger Hauer as a gifted Dutch sculptor who has a stormy...

Plot Keywords:

Uncircumcised Penis | Female Nudity | Brain Tumor | Female Frontal Nudity | Male Explicit Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Monique van de Ven	...	Olga Stapels
Rutger Hauer	...	Eric Vonk, the sculptor
Tonny Huurdeman	...	Olga's mother
Wim van den Brink	...	Olga's father
Hans Boskamp	...	Winkelchef
Dolf de Vries	...	Paul
Manfred de Graaf	...	Henny
Dick Scheffer	...	Accountant
Marjol Flore	...	Tineke
Bert Dijkstra	...	Civil servant
Bert André
Jon Bluming
Paul Brandenburg
Suze Broks
David Conyers

Also Known As:

Eric and Olga (USA) (poster title)
The Sensualist (UK)
Turkish Delight (USA) (video title)
Wild Intent (UK) (video title)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2007) | Finland:K-18 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Ireland:(Banned) | Argentina:18 | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:X (self applied) | Norway:(Banned) (1973-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Alkmaar, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Verenigde Nederlandsche Filmcompagnie (VNF)

Trivia:

Monique van de Ven's debut.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the thunderstorm, when Eric is walking towards Olga who is standing outside in the rain, the reflection of a spotlight providing "lightning" can be seen on the surface of the door.

Quotes:

Eric Vonk: I screw better than God.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Diep (2005)

"Love Story" told by Paul Verhoeven

Few days ago, I watched the documentary Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) about a channel that had brought the great and unavailable anywhere else films to its 100, 000 lucky subscribers in LA in 70s - 80s. While enjoying the clips from many Foreign and Independent movies that were the best part of documentary, I was able to recognize the movie that I saw many years ago in Moscow and still remember well, I could not only recall the title. I remember that the movie was Dutch, very erotic – in the raw, brutal, twisted yet beautiful and passionate way. Watching "Z Channel..." I was happy to instantly recognize "Turks fruit" (1973) aka "Turkish Delight" made by Paul Verhoeven in 1973. I checked with Netflix, the movie was available; I bumped it up in my queue and just finished watching it. My memory served me well - Verhoeven's early film is as naturalistic, earthy, brutal, erotic, humorous, poetic, poignant, and captivating as I remember it. Based on the novel by Jan Wolker, "Turkish Delight" stars young, hot, very sexy (and I mean it - VERY SEXY) Rutger Hauer as a bohemian free spirited and often cruel sculptor Eric and even younger Monique van de Van as his wife Olga, child-like yet as sensual as Eric was, "the light of his life, the fire of his loins". The film that describes their stormy relationship has become the most financially successful Holland's film that was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film and was proclaimed by Jan Wolker a "75% masterpiece".

There are not very many directors in the world that can create the atmosphere of raw sensuality as well as Verhoeven (of his Dutch period, especially). Verhoeven is known for uncompromising approach to his work, fiery temperament, and aggressive movie-making. Joe Ezsterhaus who worked with Verhoeven on two films said about him: "The guy is like his movies: brilliant, mercurial, very daring, perverse, a wonderful series of paradoxes and contradictions..." "The Turkish Delight" is all that and I love it but I can understand how its graphic sexuality, more than one disgusting and revolting scenes (but they had to be in the movie) and crude behavior may put off a lot of viewers. Be prepared, "Turkish Delight" is delightful but it is very intense and often not easy to watch.

8/10