Pusher

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

8 April 2024

See

Him: Frank (Kim Bodnia) a drug ‘pusher’ in Copenhagen in the ninties along with his buddy Tonny (Mads Mikkelsen) and girlfriend Vic (Laura Drashaek) are street level criminals. A bigger score goes south and Frank is indebted to Milo (Zlatko Buric) more than he can hope to repay.

Think

Him: ‘Scandinavia’s answer to Trainspotting’ is the pull quote on the poster. I was never a fan of Danny Boyle’s film, or Irvine Walsh’s book. I’m not interested in the alternative lifestyle philosophy of junkies or dealers. But that was Ewan McGregor’s breakthrough film and showed you Scotland like you’ve never seen. This is Kim Bodnia, Mads Mikkelsen and Nicolas Winding Refn 1996 work that made them stand out. Frank and Tonny’s scenes make this worth the watch, their compelling, cheeky and charming and more than just drug dealers you don’t what to know or care about at all. Frank running from police to the river is exhilarating for the Dogma 85 style of shooting.

Feel

Him: Frank asking his mother for money was devastating and sad. Calling out to their mama is what it comes to for everyone at the end of their rope. Pusher is part of a trilogy, the second focuses on Tonny. I’ll watch anything with Mads.