A MIRROR OF OUR TIME.

In 1501, the daughter (Jennifer Jason Leigh) of a nobleman ends up with a rowdy group of mercenaries, led by Martin (Rutger Hauer), whom she tries to manipulate.

Paul Verhoeven’s first English-language film was a flop, but enjoys a cult reputation today; after all, it has the director’s expected nudity and violence, with added Middle Age filth.

What’s not to love, in this feature film take on Floris, an action series that Verhoeven and Hauer made in 1969? Well, it’s relentlessly chaotic and the power game between the three leads less than thrilling.

1985-U.S.-The Netherlands-Spain. 126 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Screenplay: Gerard Soeteman, Paul Verhoeven. Music: Basil Poledouris. Cast: Rutger Hauer (Martin), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Agnes), Tom Burlinson (Steven), Jack Thompson, Fernando Hilbeck, Susan Tyrrell, Bruno Kirby… Nancy Cartwright. 

Trivia: Alternative title: The Rose and the Sword.