A2 Coursework Abigail R

Subject: Nicolas Winding Refn
Focus Of study: Auteur/ Genre theory
Resources: 3 chosen films

Title Question: Does the use of hyper violence in the films of Nicolas Winding Refn qualify the director as an auteur

Films:
Item 1- Drive (2011)
This movie is my focus film and was chosen as it is a prime example of hyper violence including an in depth look at it's use alongside genre reversal. This is perhaps a good reason to analyse as it has become one of Refn's most critically acclaimed films making the big jump to hollywood. Ryan Gosling signed up for this film purely on the fact that it would be violent like his previous film 'Valhalla Rising'. (Very Useful)

Item 2- Pusher (1996)
This movie was Refn's first film and it reflects a lot of his personal feelings towards violence, his youthful angsty perspective on this film is the main reason hyper violence is identified in his films. This is quite interesting as he thinks that art in itself is an act of violence, so this film is a central point for that topic. His stance on this film and Drive is that 'you can't live without consequences'. (Very Useful)

Item 3- Pusher II
Pusher II reflected the real life events going on in Kim Bodnia's life, this was shown in his performance and the increasing amount of violence that follows. The use of not just physical but verbal violence is highlighted well in this sequel to Refn's first film. Mads Mikkelsen became the main role in this and the two worked together on Bleeder and also Valhalla Rising. Described as 'Gritty, violent and fast paced'
(Useful)
Books:
Item 4: Teach Yourself Film Studies
This outlined the Auteur theory really well for me and I applied it to Refn's work. I started to spot little things about his work that are in a direct pattern with the title question. In telling a story every director must put their unique staple on it for people to recognise the film as one of the directors. (Very Useful)

Item 5: The Nicolas Winding Refn Handbook: Everything you need to know about Nicolas Winding Refn
This book had some great articles about the films I'm analysing including a great interpretation about one of his lesser known films 'Fear X'. Although much of it was compiled wikipedia articles it highlighted some points about the method acting and the reasoning behind the genre of the films. (Useful)

Item 6: Violence in American Cinema
This book discusses about how us, as viewers are fascinated with violence and why when we have watched it, we have a need for more and how it eventually desensitises the audience and many directors including Refn are continually trying to push the envelope to obtain the shock factor many films lack these days. (Useful)

Item 7: Adventures In The Screen Trade 
This book chronicles the origins of the auteur theory with it deriving from France, it then argues that the auteur theory doesn't even exist. This was a key point in my argument and it was interesting to see all (Useful)

Magazines
Item 8: http://magazine.topman.com/category/culture/only-god-forgives-the-cult-director-nicolas-winding-refn-on-sex-bloodshed-ryan-gosling/
In this article Refn highlighted that we inherently act violent as a self preservation instinct and that it releases tension within us- I linked this to the Superiority and relief theory in comedy which states that we laugh at others misfortune and we laugh to relieve ourselves. It acts almost like a dark comedy, with violence making us laugh. (Very Useful)

Item 9: http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2013-07/29/nicolas-winding-refn-only-god-forgives-interview
Another interesting snippet about violence here, although there is more discussion about the actors and the method acting involved, he mentions a lot about style here and that can be characterised into the mood of the film such as violence or maybe a more convoluted genre set piece. (Useful)

Internet:
 Item 10: Cannes Press Conference
Refn explained why he includes the techniques and story lines that he does and how that will affect the audience, this really helped me shape an opinion of his work and why he likes to shock the audience to gain a good reception. Another idea of this is the film 'Cannibal Holocaust' which he says that if that film did not shock audiences then his definitely won't. (Useful)


Item 11: http://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/art-is-an-act-of-violence-an-interview-with-nicolas-winding-refn
This was such a helpful article, it told me everything I needed to know about violence from his point of view. He perceived that 'Art is an act of violence' in itself and that there was always something intriguing about violence and how it showed the deep flaws in humanity. A really useful source for the wider discussion of violence. (Very Useful)


Item 12: DP/30 Nicolas Winding Refn Interview
40 minute interview about Drive and his craftsmanship, he revealed a lot about his life and experiences which allowed me to draw more meaning out of his films and analyse the key question. His childhood was explored in a bit of detail and I could start piecing together aspects of his personality to prove the auteur theory which I hadn't included before. (Useful)


Item 13: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/17/ryan-gosling-and-nicolas-winding-refn-on-sex-violence-more.html
Both Nicolas and Ryan Gosling were present during this interview and so we got to see how his actors felt about the explicit use of violence. (Useful)

Item 14: http://screenrant.com/interview-drive-nicolas-winding-refn-robf-129686/
This was one of my favourite articles in my catalogue, it had the most information about my focus film Drive. There was an allusion to genre and fleshing out the character of Driver to the point where it deviated from the book and flowed out into Nicolas' auteur theory. He gave very useful and philosophic answers. (Very Useful)

Item 15: http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/theDailyArticle/60261.html
Nicolas states in this interview that during Drive was going through a rough stage and that he needed an outlet for his anger and general emotions. This is reflected in Drive, maybe its possible that Nicolas' films all derive from a case of bottled up emotions and that violence and sex is his relief theory. (Useful)

Item 16: http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/ryan-gosling-nicolas-winding-refn-image.jpg
Picture

Item 18: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/dec/05/nicolas-winding-refn-ryan-gosling-violent-feminine-men
This gave a better view on what he thought Violence actually was.

Item 17: http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BOTI3NzAzMTAwMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzM5MjQxNw@@._V1_.jpg
Picture

Rejected Items
Films
Bleeder
I rejected this film as I preferred using a sequel especially since I could reference the familiarity of the characters. Refn seemed to have more to talk about when it came to the pusher trilogy as well. Bleeder didn't have the same effect as the rest did and so it became irrelevant to me.

Valhalla Rising
At first glance this would seem like a fantastic movie to analyse seeming as there is so much violence and gore, but this movie lacked depth and the originality of Refn's work and although the filming techniques are quite similar to that of Drive, when I considered this movie as a subject choice, I felt stranded alone in the dark with nowhere to go.

Websites
http://www.vulture.com/2013/05/only-god-forgives-nicolas-winding-refn-cannes-booed.html
This interview asked the same questions and was answered in pretty much the same way as well, Refn commented on violence being instinctual and how it is controlled now, but again there was too much focus on Kristin Scott Thomas and her character and not enough about what motivated Refn to put so much violence in his films.