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The 1991 Dutch film The Indecent Woman (original title: De onfatsoenlijke vrouw) is an erotic psychological drama directed by Ben Verbong. It is often categorised as an erotic thriller that explores themes of infidelity, sexual obsession, and the duality of control and surrender. Film Overview Original Title: De onfatsoenlijke vrouw Release Date: 26 April 1991 (Netherlands) Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller, Erotic Run Time: 95 minutes (1 hour 35 minutes) Language: Dutch IMDb Rating: 5.3 / 10 Detailed Synopsis
In Amsterdam, Emilia, a violinist, lives a seemingly stable and happy life with her husband, Charles, and their young daughter, Anna. The plot is set in motion when Emilia attempts to sell her deceased mother's house.
One day, while she is changing clothes in the house, a prospective buyer named Leon enters unexpectedly using a key provided by the real estate agent. Leon begins a game of seduction that leads to an intense, kinky affair. The relationship revolves around a single rule: they can play out their sexual fantasies until one of them says "enough". As Emilia becomes increasingly obsessed, the affair begins to unravel her family life and professional composure, with Leon eventually taking on a more menacing, stalker-like role when she tries to end the relationship. Key Cast and Crew The Indecent Woman (1991) - IMDb
The 1991 Dutch film The Indecent Woman De onfatsoenlijke vrouw
), directed by Ben Verbong, is a psychosexual drama that explores the boundaries of desire, repression, and the double life of a woman trapped in a conventional upper-class existence. Plot Overview and Atmosphere
The film follows Emilia (played by José Way), a refined woman married to a successful musician. Despite her seemingly perfect life, she feels a profound sense of emptiness. Her world is upended when she encounters Leon (Huub Stapel), a mysterious and primal stranger who awakens a dormant, dark sexuality within her.
Verbong uses a lush, almost noir-like visual style to contrast Emilia’s two worlds: The Domestic Sphere
: Bright, sterile, and quiet, representing her stifling social obligations. The Secret World the indecent woman 1991 imdb full
: Dark, rain-slicked, and visceral, where her encounters with Leon take place. Themes of Liberation and Self-Destruction
At its core, the film is less about a traditional affair and more about the fragmentation of identity
. Emilia doesn't just want Leon; she wants the version of herself that exists only in his presence—a woman who is "indecent" by the standards of her peers.
The review of this film often hinges on how one perceives Emilia's agency: Sexual Awakening
: Many critics view the film as a bold exploration of female fantasy, where the protagonist actively seeks out danger to feel alive. The Price of Obsession
: As the film progresses, the line between liberation and self-destruction blurs. Emilia’s obsession with Leon begins to dismantle her sanity and her safety, leading to a climax that is as much a psychological breakdown as it is a narrative conclusion. Performances and Direction
: Her performance is the anchor of the film. She moves convincingly from a poised, icy socialite to a woman physically and emotionally unraveled by her own desires. Huub Stapel The 1991 Dutch film The Indecent Woman (original
: Stapel brings a menacing, magnetic energy to Leon. He isn't a "romantic" lead in the traditional sense; he is a catalyst for Emilia's transformation. : Ben Verbong, known for The Girl with the Red Hair
, treats the erotic elements with a European sensibility—they are explicit but serve the psychological weight of the story rather than existing for mere shock value. Critical Reception
While the film was a significant production in Dutch cinema at the time, some modern reviews find the pacing a bit deliberate and the "mysterious stranger" trope slightly dated. However, it remains a cult classic for its atmospheric tension and its refusal to provide easy moral answers regarding Emilia's choices. or more information on where you can watch the film
Then (1991): The Indecent Woman was ignored by major critics. Variety and The New York Times did not review it. The only feedback came from Adult Video News (AVN), which gave it a lukewarm 2.5/5, praising "ambition" but panning "technical flaws."
Now (User Reviews on IMDb): With roughly 400 user ratings (as of 2025), the IMDb score hovers around 3.2/10. Common review excerpts:
"Exactly what you’d expect from a movie with this title and year. Cheesy saxophone music, bad wigs, and a plot you’ve seen a dozen times." – 2 stars
"I searched for 'the indecent woman 1991 imdb full' and finally found a copy. Don’t bother. It’s not even fun-bad, just slow and boring." – 1.5 stars Critical Reception (Then vs
"Five stars for nostalgia. Reminds me of sneaking movies at my uncle’s house. Picture quality is crap but that adds to the charm." – 5 stars (outlier)
Let’s address the elephant in the room. When you search for "The Indecent Woman 1991" directly on IMDb, the results can be ambiguous. This is because the English translation of Italian and French erotic thrillers from the late 80s and early 90s is notoriously inconsistent.
The film most commonly associated with "The Indecent Woman" (1991) is an Italian erotic drama originally titled "La donna di una sera" or sometimes listed under the international title "An Indecent Woman."
Given the title, search engines often confuse this movie with other "Indecent" films from the same era. Ensure you have the right film by checking the director.
| Film Title | Year | Starring | Director | Often mis-searched? | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | The Indecent Woman | 1991 | Cinzia Monreale | Pasquale Fanetti | The target film | | The Indecent Obsession | 1985 | Tania Busselier |... | No | | An Indecent Proposition | 1989 |... |... | Yes, frequently | | Indecent Proposal | 1993 | Demi Moore | Adrian Lyne | Constantly | | The Indecent Lady | 1990 |... | Joe D’Amato | Yes (similar cast) |
If you are looking for the Demi Moore/Robert Redford film Indecent Proposal, you have the wrong year (1993) and wrong genre. The Indecent Woman (1991) is far lower budget and Italian.