Most of the films I’ve recommended here this year have been recent releases. My original intention was to trawl the depths and try to uncover hidden or forgotten movie gems, or simply to talk about films I’ve seen for the first time and enjoyed. On that note, this week I’m recommending a loose trilogy of early films from NICOLAS WINDING REFN, director of the magnificent DRIVE, as well as BRONSON, THE NEON DEMON, and others. Set in Copenhagen, the PUSHER films give us three glimpses into the seedy criminal underbelly of the city, as shown through the eyes of different players. Here’s the synopsis and trailer for the first film.
The charmed life of a drug dealer inside Copenhagen’s underworld comes to an abrupt end when he comes to blows with an aggrieved customer.
I called this a loose trilogy for good reason. Apart from the location and a couple of characters, there’s little that connects each entry in the series. The first film follows Frank (played by KIM BODINA, who you might recognise from THE BRIDGE* and KILLING EVE) and his pal Tonny (MADS MIKKELSEN in his breakout role). In film two – PUSHER II: WITH BLOOD ON MY HANDS – events are told from Tonny’s perspective on his release from prison. The final film – PUSHER III – I’M THE ANGEL OF DEATH – is a glimpse into the life of drug lord Milo (ZLATKO BURIC) – the only character to appear in all three movies.
There’s no overarching story here, and that’s part of the genius of these films. It’s as if we’re eavesdropping on the (frankly miserable) lives of these characters for short periods of time. There’s no attempt at any closure, no complete character arcs or overarching narratives, and it’s wonderful. If you want stories with resolution, you should maybe look elsewhere. The roughness of production and the extensive use of handheld cameras almost give the impression that we’re watching documentaries, perhaps tapping into CCTV feeds. The films are grounded, ugly, and completely watchable. It’s so refreshing to find a series so uninhibited. Typically, trilogies can collapse under the weight of expectation towards the end of their run – too many plot strands to tie up, and too much baggage left from earlier instalments. That’s certainly not the case with the PUSHER movies.
If you want to check them out for yourself, they’re on SHUDDER but I’ve also found them on FREEVEE, TUBI and FREEMIUM, though only FREEVEE had English subtitles.
*Nerdy fact – my wife and I are huge fans of NORDIC NOIR, particularly the original version of THE BRIDGE. Like a pair of complete saddos we travelled to Copenhagen last year specifically to drive over the Øresund Bridge which features heavily in the show – particularly the first season. In also seriousness, if you’ve not watched the series, you really should. It’s some of the greatest TV I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch.
