RutgerHauerIntroduction

Rutger Hauer (1944-2019) was a Dutch actor mostly known for his role as Roy Batty in the film “Blade Runner” (1982). In 1969 Hauer started his career in the title rol of the television series “Floris”, and his fame increased after his role in Paul Verhoeven’s film “Turks Fruit” (Turkish Delight) in 1973, possibly the best Dutch film ever made.

In the early 1980s Rutger turned to Hollywood, starring in Sylvester Stallone’s “Nighthawks” (1981) and Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” (1982). Most notably his role as replicant Roy Batty in Blade Runner, in which he delivered his improvised ‘Tears In Rain’ speech made a lasting impression and helped him expand his career with roles in films like “Flesh and Blood” and “Ladyhawke” (1985), “The Hitcher” (1986), “Escape From Sobibor” (1987), “Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind” (2003), “Sin City” (2005) and “Batman Begins” (2005).

At some point Rutger Hauer and Vangelis became good friends, possible somewhere in the 2000s. In an interview Hauer shared his feeling on Vangelis’ music for Blade Runner: ’The music of Blade Runner is so devastatingly beautiful. Yet at the same time it is many other things. Tacky, ominous, haunting, sad. Vangelis did an extraordinary job; his score became a major character’. It is no coincidence that on the official "Blade Runner" soundtrack Vangelis used Hauer's famous speech on the track 'Tears In Rain', as if to show how closely the music and speech are related. On “BR 25”, Vangelis' 2007 album with new music inspired by Blade Runner, Rutger Hauer can be heard repeating his speech in the Dutch and German language on the track ‘No Expectation Boulevard’.

From 2008 Rutger Hauer organised the “I See Films” international short film festival in Milan, its name an obvious tribute to his famed speech in Blade Runner. Apparently Vangelis donated a short theme to the festival which played at the beginning of every film screening. The music was never heard again after the festival stopped in 2012.

Additionally Vangelis provided music for several films that Hauer published:

  • “Lonesone” (2009), a short film produced at the Rutger Hauer Filmfactory master class. Published on the 4th of July 2009.
  • “Aboriginal Dreaming” (2010), a short poem recited by Rutger Hauer. Published on the 7th of May 2010.
  • “Artists for Sea Shepherd - Stop Killing Whales” (2010), a short film with a plea to protect whales. Published on the 18th of June 2010.

Aged 75, Rutger Hauer passed away on the 19th of July 2019, the same year as his alter ego Roy Batty died in Blade Runner. In a response Vangelis stated that he would always remember Rutger as a good friend and never forget the classic scene in Blade Runner with his ‘time to die’ monologue.

 

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