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Katie Tippel [1975]
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Although director Verhoeven, as well as Hauer and cinematographer Jan De Bont eventually became involved in mainstream American movies, Katie Tippel is very much of the European school of filmmaking: episodic and harsh in its depiction of everyday poverty. The dead puppy at the beginning definitely marks it out as being contrary to Hollywood's near-zero canine mortality rate. The sexual scenes are graphic to the point of gratuitousness but always grimly non-titillating. Budgetary limits cramp some of the mass street scenes, but generally the film is beautifully shot and ageless in feel. A far cry, certainly, from Showgirls, for which Verhoeven was later responsible. --David Stubbs The first part of the film dwells on an unhappy childhood with a fair amount of effort having been made to represent accurate historical detail. Thereafter the film gets more confused. The director (Mr Veerhoeven) apparently simply can't make his mind up whether to keep on informing or to turn the whole shebang into a soft porn movie. Eventually as Keetje mixes with the Dutch Aristocracy you end up with Upstairs Downstairs with clogs and some mild nudity. It is hard to recognise from this film that Veerhoeven went on to make Robocop. It is perhaps less hard to imagine that he went on to make Showgirls.
RRP: £19.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Made in 1975 and directed by Paul Verhoeven, Katie Tippel ("Katie the Streetwalker") is a handsome period drama set in 19th-century Holland, based on a true story. The second eldest daughter in a poor, Friesland family who move to Amsterdam, Katie (Monique Van de Ven) must find whatever work is going to make ends meet. She has already learnt to have no faith in her weak father. Now, as she enters a succession of jobs in which she experiences both exploitation and sexual harassment, she learns that men want her only for one thing. Duly, at the behest of her own mother, she enters into prostitution. However, when she becomes model to an artist, she is finally able to escape the poverty trap and ascend the social ladder, particularly when banker Hugo (Rutger Hauer) takes her as his lover. All this is set against a backdrop of social foment as the workers' impatience at poor social conditions increases.
Interesting though flawed period drama
Review date: 2001-02-12 Rating: 6 out of 10
19th century Holland was apparently a tough place to grow up. If your parents couldn't afford to feed you they might very easily sell you into prostitution. Such was the fate of our young heroine Keetje.
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Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Rutger Hauer
Monique van de Ven
Jan Blaaser
Andrea Domburg
Hannah de Leeuwe
Creators:
Monique van de Ven (Primary Contributor)
Rutger Hauer (Primary Contributor)
Jan de Bont (Cinematographer)
Jane Sperr (Editor)
Rob Houwer (Producer)
Gerard Soeteman (Writer)
Neel Doff (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Tartan Video
Manufacturer: Tartan Video
EAN: 5023965335722
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2003-02-24
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Running time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1975
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Original Language)