La môme aux pissenlits

I really enjoyed this 1970s exploitation gem from Germany. Jess Franco regular Adrian Hoven directs, and future 'Blade Runner' star Rutger Hauer plays a disaffected sailor turned hard drinking womaniser. Quite a few lovelies appear alongside Hauer (most of whom he beds), including the foxy Dagmar Lassander ('Forbidden Photos Of A Lady Above Suspicion') and Shirley Corrigan ('The Devil's Nightmare'). Rutger returns home from six months at sea to find his wife (Corrigan), whom he was deeply in love, has unexpectedly left him and is now a junkie whore. Devastated, he tries to ease his pain with booze and cheap thrills. His wife's best friend (Lassander, who is a major babe, and yes, shows us her goodies) makes a move on him, and when he spurns her (after scewing her first, naturally) she plots her revenge. She does so in an ingenious way, by exploiting a fantasy woman of his, but her plan backfires with tragic consequences. I watched a badly dubbed, badly transferred old VHS tape, but I highly recommend this movie to exploitation fans. It mixes sleaze, comedy and drama to good effect. Rutger is super cool throughout, there's plenty of nudity, and there's one hysterical bit where Mr. Hauer jams with a band on wah-wah guitar which cracks me up everytime I think about it. Though there are many unintentional laughs it isn't all kitch fun, and things get pretty heavy in places. I especially recommended it to anyone who digs pre-Hollywood Verhoeven like 'Turkish Delight' and 'Spetters'. This is kinda sorta in that ballpark. 'Dandelions' doesn't deserve to languish in obscurity any longer. Essential viewing for all Rutger Hauer fans.