5. Katie Tippel (1975)
The most expensive Dutch film of its time and raking in nearly 2,000,000 returns at the Dutch box office alone, Katie Tippel was another huge early success for Verhoeven. I really like this film, i think it's a jolly good romp and I admire the spirit and moxie of the heroine Katie. The film basically deals with Katie's ascent from abject poverty, working in a dye works where the corrosive liquids burn her hands, to working in a hat shop where she gets raped by the owner, her diagnosis of tuberculosis and forced entry into prostitution where she meets an artist called George. George introduces her to Hugo (Rutger Hauer) a banker with whom she goes to bed with. She is given the money for a new dress and she goes to see her family to tell them to piss off. Her mother cries "But how shall I feed the children?". Katie retorts "You should have f**ked less!" and with that, she's away. But alas, Hugo has to marry his fiancee after a spell of bourgeoiseness for Katie and she gets kicked to the kerb. Joining a protest on the street she meets two of Hugo's friends and they ride off to a country mansion. Katie Tippel is a lot of fun, if only to cheer on Monique van de Ven's plucky performance as the dirt poor girl determined to rise above her lot in life. It is not an easy ride, definitely not Hollywoodesque, a lot more earthy and raw than any mainstream film. It is the stuff only European film makers have the balls to portray. it is a brutally realistic and unsensationalised portrayal of one woman's choice between prostitution or the abyss. Nothing is put in to shock you, things are the way they are and Verhoeven just records them for posterity. If you want to watch the highlight of Monique van de Ven's career, then catch it here!