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Turkish Delight
 
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Turkish Delight (1974)

Starring: Monique van de Ven, Rutger Hauer Director: Paul Verhoeven Rating: X (Mature Audiences Only) Format: DVD
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)


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Although the confectionary does make an appearance at the end of the film, Turkish Delight, as a title, may be interpreted in a number of ways. This violent tale of love is told in flashback from the perspective of bohemian artist Eric Vonk (Rutger Hauer, collaborating for the first time with director Paul Verhoeven). When the film opens on a brutal attack and then a succession of one-night stands, it seems that the guy's a complete jerk. Then a sudden lurch backwards two years reveals the motivations for both his dreams and behavior, as well as the subject of the photos he spends his time pining for. He meets Olga (a fantastic Monique van de Ven) as the result of a car accident. But their tempestuous relationship is shaken by many peculiar events: a surreal wedding ceremony, unveiling a statue to the Queen and the death of Olga's father. The real problem is Olga herself, however, which leads to a shock ending many have compared to Love Story.

Somewhat dated now, and made long before his move to Hollywood, Turkish Delight is nonetheless unmistakably a product of the now-familiar Verhoeven style. The film's language and images still have the power to shock or offend, and we certainly get to see far too much of Hauer's private parts, even though some amazing visuals (mirrored candles, inspired beach art, and a nightmarish red Chinese restaurant) are some compensation. --Paul Tonks


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17 Reviews
5 star:
 (11)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Its crude, its shocking!, October 16, 2000
It's crude, it's shocking, it's filled with more heartbreaking scenes you could ever stand and it's classic Paul Verhoeven when he was still `De Man', way before he became `The Man'. When this film was released in Holland people were standing in endless queues in front of the Tuschinski theater in Amsterdam back in 1973 (!!!!), it caused a genuine witchhunt towards Verhoeven and every well broughtup decent citizen screamed it was a total slap in the face for human decency and family values. Why then did everybody go to see this hopeless lovestory? Basicly to see some nakedness on a white screen I guess, but there's more to it. The film is such an frightenly accurate account of a hopeless love between 2 people and told without unnessesary falseness in such a simple, naked style ( boy meets girl in the 70's, girl dies of illness in the `70, boy is alone again in the '70) that it's sometimes hard to watch. There's so much weird humour and clever camera moves (Jan `Speed'de Bont) you instantly recognize Verhoeven's style. Rutger Hauer and Monique van de Ven are giving their performances of a lifetime, as is the town of seventies Amsterdam. It's a film that gives you that feeling of `I was living in Holland at that time I wanted to be like them'. The orchestral score by Rogier Van Otterloo and Jean `Toots' Thielemans' mouthorgan are colouring this picture to heartbreaking perfection. Funny thing is, when the film is aired on TV nowadays (uncut, this is Holland you know) it still gets a number 1 top viewers audience. Make this DVD a double bill together with Betty Blue on a cold winter night!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Not Soon Forgotten, January 14, 2003
By Suzanne Wlaschin (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Turkish Delight [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I went to see this movie with a boyfriend when we were both about eighteen - so this was nearly 24 years ago. Neither of us had a clue what we were in for. All I can say it that we both sat riveted to our seats throughout the movie and did not speak on the way home. Several days later we did speak and both of us admitted that neither of us could stop thinking about the movie, almost incessantly, it turned out. Never has any movie made a bigger impression on me or hit me more deeply or closer to where I live. Images from this movie dominated my head for hours, days, weeks, months and even years afterwards. I don't know what, if anything, I learned from it - I just know that I was obsessed with what I had witnessed on the screen, for whatever reason.

For details of the story, see the excellent reviews above. I just wanted to write about the effect that it had on me. Perhaps I should see it again, at age 41, and maybe find out what it was that so captivated me. Or perhaps I'll never be able to put it into words.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY ADULT LOVE STORY...., September 12, 2003
Paul Verhoeven's 1973 far-from-Hollywood film opens with the [physical] escapades of Erik (Rutger Hauer) a womanizing self-destructive artist. Alone in his apartment/studio, he reflects back on his life and a painful episode that he can't forget. He met Olga (Monique Van de Ven) in a car accident. They embarked on a wild [physical] affair and Erik fell in love...hard. Olga had personality quirks that confused Erik but he just wrote it off as part of her nature. They married and Olga's behavior became more disturbing until she finally retreated to her mother's and refused to see Erik. Confounded, Erik demanded to see her and still didn't understand the problem. Then Olga winds up in the hospital seriously ill and her problem is revealed to Erik's shattered disbelief. "Turkish Delight" is the name of Olga's favorite candy. He brings it to the hospital to try and get her to eat. This is a powerful, moving and , yes, erotic story beautifully done by Verhoeven and brilliantly acted by Hauer and especially Van de Ven. There is very frank nudity and [physical] scenes that threaten to push your buttons but Verhoeven is the type of director who just throws back the curtain and tells the story. You understand why Erik is the guy he is. Love and [physical attraction] are powerful drugs and death can make you extremely bitter. "Turkish Delight" was nominated as Best Foreign Launguage film in 1974 at the Oscars in Hollywood. Once seen, it is not easily forgotten. It's a very potent adult love story and a gut wrencher. Excellent DVD transfer from Anchor Bay.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars This is a delightful film that started out as an adult movie...
The story is so good and the acting so superior that the second half becomes much more than just an exploitation film... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Roberto Frangie

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Rutger Hauer then you are going to love this movie!
Wow this movie is so intense very sexual and very romantic. I own this movie I am a huge fan of Rutger Hauer, he is such a wonderful actor. A must see movie.
Published 23 months ago by Samson3

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Film
The film starts off as a freaky sex story and ends with an unexpected tragedy. The cinematography is beautiful. Read more
Published on October 5, 2006 by GyroPyro

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-See for Rutger Hauer Fans!
There are many wonderfully descriptive reviews to light the path to this enjoyable film. They are all true--faults and accolades. Read more
Published on September 28, 2006 by Sunday Kazas

4.0 out of 5 stars "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... Read more
Published on September 17, 2006 by Galina

4.0 out of 5 stars Musique?
Great movie!
I thought he music was an important part of the film.
All these reviews are helpful, but the main theme starting with the beach scene was credited wrong. Read more
Published on March 28, 2004 by ExpoBill

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Love Story
Ranks as one of Verhoeven's best films with hypnotic and electrifying performances by Monique Van De Ven and Rutger Hauer. Read more
Published on January 5, 2004 by M. Hencke

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly depressing
Can't really say much more. When I first watched this the start of it made me laugh.....don't know why but it just did. Read more
Published on November 20, 2003 by filterite

3.0 out of 5 stars A "Verhoeven" Expression of Love
There are many ways in which love and passion can be manifested in a relationship, but if it is to prevail, it is essential that both sides complement one another, physically,... Read more
Published on August 29, 2002 by Reviewer

4.0 out of 5 stars Instinct (Basically)
Wow! When Paul Verhoeven is on, he is really on. This film has one of those openings. Fantastic, sucks you right in, and then you find out what the film is really about. Read more
Published on August 12, 2002 by lecorel@hotmail.com

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