Even though he has made less than 10 features over the last 17 years, the films of Danish writer and director Nicolas Winding Refn are instantly recognizable, visually compelling and effectively unnerving. While technically savvy and refined, Refn has embraced seedy environments and a gritty template to create his dark dramas, all of which have flawed, brooding and wandering male figures at their centres.
These are not easy to watch, but Refn’s memorable films — and Refn himself — are coming to TIFF Bell Lightbox with a retrospective dating from the mid-90s through to his latest 2013 offering.
Here are the top picks from the two week event.
Pusher
Pusher is the first in a thematic trilogy for Refn, and the film made his name known in film circles around the world. All three films will be shown during the retrospective, but the first entry into the series is arguably the best. Set in Copenhagen, Pusher follows Frank, a peon dealer who falls into debt with a powerful drug lord and has little time to pay up. Delving into the dirty and nasty depths of Denmark, Refn’s debut is tense and uncomfortable — and unforgettable.
Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m.
Bronson
Refn’s biopic of Michael Peterson — a violent and maniacal British prisoner who would become known as Charles Bronson — stars a brilliant Tom Hardy in the titular role. Typically stylized and bloody, Bronson tackles themes of isolation, ambition and popularity. Once again, Refn balances narrative tenuously with form, and keeps you on edge instantly — the opening scene is especially intimidating.
Oct. 27, 6 p.m.
Valhalla Rising
This gruesome and beautifully eerie Medieval tale is atmospheric and heavy on metaphor — and of course, blood and death, too. Mads Mikkelsen is a mute warrior who escapes enslavement and wanders the countryside for salvation. Whatever sense of direct narrative that exists in the beginning gives way by the second act, as the protagonist’s journey is all about the sights and sounds of a dangerous and unpredictable word. This is best watched after dark.
Oct. 27, 9 p.m.
Drive
Perhaps Refn’s most iconic — and possibly most accessible — film, Drive pairs the director with Ryan Gosling for a perfect match. This is the first time the two ever teamed up, and Gosling delivers a memorable performance as an unnamed stuntman/getaway driver who gets unwittingly involved in the dangerous matters of a neighbour. Quiet, contemplative and brutally violent, Gosling is a great fit for Refn’s style. It’s a delicate and clever balance for Refn as he combines his cerebral, heavily affected technique with action and thrills. Featuring a star-studded cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman, Drive is a great gateway for Refn’s films — and it will still leave you floored.
Oct. 29, 9:30 p.m.
Only God Forgives
Gosling and Refn team up again, taking what they did in Drive to a new level. Gosling is a drug smuggler in Bangkok who is driven by his mother to seek his slain brother’s killer. That’s about as far as the narrative goes in this challengingly slow and gripping art house drama. Refn proves divisive and confrontational with the film, one that once again offers up some brutally realistic violence. It’s a fight to not only stomach the blood, but to mentally contort oneself around the storytelling.
Nov. 5, 8:45 p.m.
With Blood on His Hands: The Films of Nicolas Winding Refn, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Oct. 23 – Nov. 5
