De worstelaar

The first film in which Paul Verhoeven collaborated with Jan de Bont is De worstelaar (1971) (Dutch for The Wrestler). It is a charming little film of about twenty minutes. Wim Zomer is troubled by his father because he has a relationship with the wife of a great wrestler. Just like his documentaru about the Marine Corps, 'De Worstelaar' also has an attractive pace, with well-timed situational jokes, and fun interpretations. Especially the father is entertaining in his reactions to his sons behaviour. But the son is also quite nice as the riotous boy doens't know his limits.

A smooth film with slapstick moments and an attractive tone and understandably the beginning of a successful collaboration between cameraman Jan de Bont and Paul Verhoeven who would make many films together, including Türkische Früchte (1973), Der vierte Mann (1983) and Basic Instinct (1992).

This 20 minute movie was the last of Verhoeven's shorts. It has the same super-ugly look (clashing, bleary colors, aggressively non-attractive people and compositions) that is characteristic of his early features, and the same raunchy bitterly ironic humor too. Made in 1970 - it is a typical (except anyone as talented as Verhoeven is never typical) example of swinging 60s sexual morality. Well paced, nicely amoral and with Verhoeven closet-fascist (I share his views entirely) disgust with the grossness and worthlessness of the age in which we live palpable beneath the surface. Wickedly, deadpan-ironic and confrontational as only Paul Verhoeven can be. All in all - it is a Paul Verhoeven picture and better in some ways than his early features - certainly better than the one about the Amsterdam hooker.

I'd sure love to see his other shorts - especially the one on Mussart and the Dutch Marines.