Leofwine_draca Turkish Delight is an erotic drama from Dutch director Paul Verhoeven, made early on in his career. Stylistically, this is similar to the dark eroticism of other '70s art-house flicks like THE NIGHT PORTER, IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, and EMMANUELLE, although with the flamboyant Dutchman behind the camera it's a film that's quite unique and in a category all of its own.I'm not really a fan of the erotic genre like this - I find the structures of the films to be too limited, and they often feel padded with little true incident to recommend them. Nonetheless, there's plenty to enjoy about Turkish Delight, with superior cinematography from Verhoeven regular Jan De Bont and a wild, excessive performance from future big-shot Rutger Hauer in what is essentially a star-making performance.Although the plot of Turkish Delight is in essence a love story, Verhoeven uses the opportunity to throw in plenty of his trademarks. There's violence here, taking the form of vicious beatings, including some bad-taste comedy and lots of variously explicit stuff. The characters wander around naked for half the running time and the script is VERY crude. Inevitably, things take a bleaker turn at the climax. Turkish Delight's not my favourite Verhoeven, not by a mile, but it's worth a look for fans of the director/genre.

Galina 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

lesraine Turkish delight is a book by the Dutch true artist Jan Wolkers: a painter, a sculptor, a writer. Symbol of sexual liberation in the 60's and 70's with a series of books about his youth, freeing himself of protestant chains and the general revolt against the bourgeoisie, Wolkers made himself big. But he became larger than life with his contribution to Dutch culture and the understanding of the Dutch mind. The movie itself is a delight with scenes shot in Amsterdam and the greater Amsterdam area: all that is fashionable passes by, not just sexual freedom and the confrontation with society. And the beauty of both Rutger Hauer and Monique van der Ven, is a well deserved extra.

movieguy81007 I am a Rutger Hauer fan. In this movie Rutger Hauer is very young. This is one of Paul Verhoeven's early films. It seems very dated but it still a good movie. This movie got nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It should have one. It is similar to Basic Instinct for sexuality. This film is similar to Katie Tippel another Paul Verhoeven film. The first time I saw Rutger Hauer is was Batty from Blade Runner. Then I saw him in Split Second and just recently in Flesh + Blood. Flesh + Blood is Rutger Hauer's best film. I do not want to forget his other Dutch films Soldier of Orange and Spetters. Rutger Hauer never got nominated for an Oscar and I am surprised by that.