Pusher

Grim, tough debut feature from Nicolas Winding Refn (based on his 5 minute short film) tells the story of Frank, a hardnosed drug pusher in Copenhagen, who gets more than he bargained for when a deal goes wrong. His Serbian supplier Milo (Buric, in a standout performance) and henchman Radovan give him one last chance to come up with the money, but as it is nothing goes like planned. Kinetic, realistic and supercharged with sudden bursts of (mostly offscreen) violence and a pounding soundtrack as well as all around knockout performances with Kim Bodnia excellent as Frank. One of the best Danish movies of 1996. ***½ (of ****)