Nicolas Winding Refn

How colorblindness created vivid aesthetics on film.

Viktor Bezic
Jul 22, 2017 · 2 min read

Discipline: Film

You’d think that the Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn had it made from the start to create film. He’s directed Bronson, Valhalla Rising, Drive, Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon, His father Anders Refn was a film editor while his mother, Vibeke Winding, is still a photographer and cinematographer (1). At eight years old, not knowing any English, his family moved to New York City. He didn’t learn to read until the age of thirteen, but that wasn’t because English was his second language. It’s because he was dyslexic as well. His inability to read made him obsessed with the screen and television (2).

He tried his hand at acting and enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts only to get kicked out after a year. It was a blessing in disguise as he moved back to Copenhagen and made his first film, “Pusher” at the age of 23 (3).

However, it isn’t dyslexia or poor acting skills that left an indelible mark on his creativity. It was his colorblindness. If you look at his films, they are all very high contrast, with rich, saturated colors. No visuals are muted for the simple fact he wouldn’t be able to see them. (4)

Although contrast is a key visual part of his films, it also permeates the content of his films. They encompass the polarities of life. Passiveness and aggression, love and hate. You can also feel the contrast in his films. Long periods of silence and lack dialogue followed by scenes of explosive violence.

Refn’s colorblindness creates a style that is uniquely his own.

References:

1. Tobias, Scott. “Nicolas Winding Refn .” The A.V. Club. N.p., 15 Sept. 2011. Web. 21 July 2017. <http://www.avclub.com/article/nicolas-winding-refn-61788>.

2. Franco, James. “James Franco Interviews Nicolas Winding Refn: His ‘Extreme’ Career, Cocaine and the ‘Ritualistic Witchcraft’ of ‘Neon Demon’.” IndieWire. N.p., 27 Sept. 2016. Web. 21 July 2017. <http://www.indiewire.com/2016/09/james-franco-interviews-nicolas-winding-refn-neon-demon-1201730026/>.

3. Idem

4. Renée, V. “Nicolas Winding Refn Says This Is the Reason He Makes Films with Such High Contrast.” No Film School. N.p., 12 June 2015. Web. 21 July 2017. <http://nofilmschool.com/2015/06/nicolas-winding-refn-says-reason-makes-films-high-contrast>.


Originally published at blog.viktorbezic.com.

Constrained Creativity

An unscientific journal documenting creative breakthroughs in the face of constraints.

Viktor Bezic

Written by

Creator @ hypernormal.space

Constrained Creativity

An unscientific journal documenting creative breakthroughs in the face of constraints.

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