By: Dustin Kidd June 1, 2013
Wow. This is one dinner I’d like to avoid.
The scene featured here is from Only God Forgives, the latest film from Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Bronson). Refn once again collaborates with Drive star Ryan Gosling, who here plays Julian, a man whose boxing league is merely a front for his drug dealing in Bangkok. After older brother Billy is murdered, his mother Crystal (Kristin Scott Thomas – The English Patient), who is very well informed about their criminal goings-on, arrives, and uses all sorts of verbal and psychological attacks to shame Julian into avenging his brother’s death.
The clip showcases Refn’s talent for framing scenes with little or no dialogue, and also effectively condenses the character interaction that will be seen throughout the movie. Julian is browbeaten by his mother, who obviously loved his older brother Billy more. His continued silence, no matter what insults or embarrassing details his mother throws at Mai (Yayaying Ratha Phongam), is a well-developed defense mechanism.
Only God Forgives opens in theaters July 19th.