Pusher (1996)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Nicolas Winding Refn

Writers:

Jens Dahl (writer)
Nicolas Winding Refn (writer)

Release Date:

30 August 1996 (Denmark)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

You don't have a chance. Seize it!

Plot:

Frank is a drug pusher on the roll, until he makes a huge deal with dope that he hasn't payed for, and he gets busted by the police...

Plot Keywords:

Pusher | Drug Pusher | Drugs | Techno Rave | Drug Dealer

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Kim Bodnia	...	Frank
Zlatko Buric	...	Milo
Laura Drasbæk	...	Vic
Slavko Labovic	...	Radovan
Mads Mikkelsen	...	Tonny
Peter Andersson	...	Hasse
Vanja Bajicic	...	Branko
Lisbeth Rasmussen	...	Rita
Levino Jensen	...	Mike
Thomas Bo Larsen	...	Junkie
Lars Bom	...	Cop
Michael Hasselflug	...	Cop
Nicolas Winding Refn	...	Brian (as Jang Go Star)
Jesper Lohmann	...	Mikkel
Steen Fridberg	...	Lasse

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish | Swedish | Serbo-Croatian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | France:-16 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R18 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Germany:16 | Denmark:15

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Balboa Entertainment

Trivia:

Was sold to over 30 countries worldwide.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Frank and Tonny are in the drugstore to buy vitamins (just before the drug-deal with the Swede), the cameraman is reflected in a mirror.

Quotes:

Frank: [pulls a gun] I need your money and your drugs.
Mike: Oh, man. Now you've lost it.

Movie Connections:

References Mad Max (1979)

Soundtrack:

For a While

Deserves more than cult fame

I think this film is almost without flaws. The dialogue, acting, atmosphere,cutting and soundtrack all mesh in a perfect union. The director has not gotten the international recognition he deserves. Unlike Breaking the Waves and The party the qualities of Pusher are mainly relayed through word of mouth and websites like this. I hope he makes it big with up and coming Bleeder...which by the way also is the name of the band fronted by the guy who scores the films music.(Same guy who did music for Pusher). Anybody who thinks tough street action with good dialogue can only be made by yanks like scorsese, mann and tarantino should think twice and check this one out. It's one of the best.