Whether you loved or hated Only God Forgives, you have to give it to Nicolas Winding Refn – he made the movie he wanted to make. His career has been filled with highly artistic films (Bronson and Valhalla Rising especially), but the meteoric art house success of Drive nearly made him a household name. While it was his most commercial picture, it was not the kind of film he would ever make again. Unfortunately however, that popularity (among mostly new fans) was the benchmark by which he would be judged; anything that wasn’t “Drive 2” would most likely disappoint.
So, more than a year after the divisive reception of Only God Forgives, Refn’s wife, Liv Corfixen has released My Life Directed By Nicolas Winding Refn, a very personal making-of documentary that recounts the struggles Refn had while shooting his 2013 film (read our review here). It may seem like damage control, but Corfixen’s footage, home video-turned-documentary, reveals an intimate portrait of her husband in his creative process. If anything, it shows just how hard the filmmaking process can be.
At the Fantastic Fest this year, we got to sit with both Corfixen and Refn to discuss the candid issues openly presented in the film, the atmospheric score (provided by regular Refn collaborator Cliff Martinez), and more. Check out the video interview below, along with the trailer.
My Life Directed By Nicolas Winding Refn premiered at Fantastic Fest and is currently seeking distribution.