Overview
A passionate and tumultuous love story unfolds against the backdrop of artistic ambition and familial conflict.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- erotic
- earthy
- witty
- classic cinema night
- arthouse romance viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful, provocative, and emotionally affecting landmark of Dutch cinema, with its erotic frankness and tragic romance central to its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Eric and Olga's relationship is shaped by sexual hijinks, nudity, bodily comedy, and an explicitly physical romantic register.
Eric's life as a sculptor and libertine is opposed by Olga's disapproving mother and the pressures of marriage.
Eric sees a sculpture of Olga and enters the flashback recounting their romance and separation.
The film combines farcical domestic episodes and sexual comedy with separation, illness, and a devastating final register.
Films like Turkish Delight, and why
Love Story
erotic star-crossed romance, melodramatic emotional intensity, and tragic illness
Last Tango in Paris
provocative erotic drama centered on volatile intimacy and social convention
Betty Blue
raw european romance combining sexual frankness, youthful passion, and emotional devastation
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Verhoeven
- Release Date
- 1973-02-22
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (220)
Cast
- Monique van de Ven
- Rutger Hauer
- Tonny Huurdeman
- Wim van den Brink
- Hans Boskamp
- Dolf de Vries
- Manfred de Graaf
- Dick Scheffer
- Marjol Flore
- Bert Dijkstra
Common questions
- What is Turkish Delight about?
- A volatile Dutch sculptor's passionate marriage becomes an earthy, sexually frank romance shadowed by family hostility, separation, and devastating illness.
- What is Turkish Delight like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Turkish Delight as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Turkish Delight violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Turkish Delight as moderate.
- What did critics think of Turkish Delight?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful, provocative, and emotionally affecting landmark of Dutch cinema, with its erotic frankness and tragic romance central to its impact.
- Which films are like Turkish Delight?
- Films with a similar feel include Love Story, Last Tango in Paris, and Betty Blue.
- How long is Turkish Delight?
- Turkish Delight runs 108 minutes.
