Reviews on movie Northwest (4)

The northwest of Copenhagen is one of the poorest and most multi-ethnic areas of the city. Casper, 18, lives here with his mother, younger brother and little sister. To make ends meet, he, along with his friend Robin, commits petty thefts from houses, selling stolen goods to the local ringleader Jamal, who controls a small gang in the area. But the ambitious Casper does not want to risk himself to depend on him, rummaging through the houses at night for the small cash he pays in return.
It's a strange movie that I've come across, and I usually skip it, but this time I decided to see it because of the praise and the high marks. The impressions are twofold, I did not like the cruelty and unscrupulousness of young people, I was shocked that this can happen in one of the most educated, intelligent and cultured cities in the world. Robberies, raids, fights and beating people with or without cause, dubious girls and the race of the crowd after a person, it was wild and really scary.
The youthful maximalism of the protagonist pushes the hero not to study, but to the path of easily available money, turning him into one of the crowds, it is a pity that in Europe there are many ways to earn money honestly, although it may seem so to us, but in fact everything is more difficult than it seems.

6 out of 10

How many times in the same Europe I saw the well-groomed facades of houses in the capitals and on the outskirts, but when I went inside the courtyard, on the other hand, I immediately noticed the crumbling plaster. mud, oblique shutters, gutter pipes hanging with rusty snakes. In Rome, try to drive to the end stations of the metro and take a walk in the areas where there are almost no tourists. There's a lot to see. Europe - it beckons, it is neat. But what's behind the facade? Is it all sort of cool?

The creators of the film “North-West” just looked behind the facade. They didn't just get in the back door, they even invaded the toilets of Europe. After a long time in the toilet Moscow was Western Biryulevo, the country saw that there and exploded. The anger of the people came out. Yegor Shcherabkov was killed in Biryulyovo. In the film "North-West" kid Kasper lives here in the same Danish "Biryulevo", where gangs operate. In one final episode, Casper runs away from a group of Arab teenagers. The same thing happens in Russian cities.

The population is fleeing migrants, and maybe this is how director Michael Noer showed us his protest against the uncontrolled surrender of his land to foreigners. Who knows. Creative language is always quite pretentious. Casper (Actor Gustav Glese) looks like our skinheads. He has a brother sister, a mother, and all of them fell to live on the outskirts of Europe.
Director Michael Noer unobtrusively immerses the viewer in the world of other concepts. European values, democracy, republic... None of this is right. There is another Europe – where drugs reign, blue, “watchers”, gangs of immigrants, not too secret dens, drunkards-Danish-bulls and all this is cooked in the juice of ferocious cruelty. This is where Casper and his family come in. Like any young man, he needs money, hormones play, girls demand drinks and gifts. Then Casper starts domesticating.

I looked at these houses in Denmark: what is there to domesticate? This is in Moscow — only one — according to statistics, there are more iron doors installed than in all of Germany. So I heard. And the houses that are robbed by Casper and his accomplice open as easily as a package of kefir. Ordinary wooden doors are more for profanation than for protection. He took a nail, put it in the door. Another joint smoked and that's all - you're in the house, work, type whatever you want. And so did Casper, until he came out a man more serious.
Bjorn (Roland Muller) has already ordered certain things. This is a career for Casper. Your career is growing and where does it lead? A burglar pimp is a killer? No, this guy is young, but he's not stupid before he does something, and he tries to do it carefully. But don't you think about it? Bjorn creates the image of a Father. Both brothers, Casper and Andy (Oscar Gis), have only a mother and sister. And as often happens in this situation, there is a strong man who takes the place of the biological father. They are starting to love him a little bit.

As a viewer, I liked the scenery. I haven't been to Denmark or Copenhagen, but these neat lawns, these beautiful buildings, this grooming is pleasing to the eye. And then Michael Noer throws us into the paths of coke and even feces. This technique is used by Quentin Tarantino: everything is like a sieve-covered and suddenly - bang - and all the walls are in blood and urine. Gangs of emigrants both in Biryulevo and here in Copenhagen are creating their own ethnic enclaves. It would seem that there is a temptation to slide into the genre of banal criminality, cutting each other’s throats, shootings and blood. But no. Michael Noer is aiming the wrong way. It shows us a slice of life, I would even say it is a household movie. Yes, yes! Household, but it looks with interest and without a single special effect.

No, there's one special effect. Smoke. All of Europe now seems to be watching their health, running around the parks. In all the scenes, the characters enjoy smoking. Grass, cigarettes clubs of poisonous rings seem to entangle the viewer. This smoke is causing a lot of confusion. Is Michael Noer preparing a surprise like this? If so, it was a surprise. I really didn't expect one of the most squashed characters to come out with a powerful act. Cruel but powerful. This is truly a quiet place...

In the film North-West, the director and scriptwriters again made Slavic girls prostitutes. I think they speak either Czech or Slovak. Well, maybe this step is not unreasonable. I think that Slavic girls are the backbone of prostitution in Denmark.
What about Casper? So I asked the viewer, why is he choosing this slippery path? In Europe, where there are plenty of opportunities for self-realization? And Michael Noer gives us the answer: it's just because they -- these Danish guys -- don't want to do anything else! So a hitman's career is more attractive than a teacher's? Youthful maximalism. All or nothing.

And no wonder I remember the phrase of Kasper's mother. Or rather, her question and his answer. "Are you taking care of yourself?" "Of course, Mom." And then I dive into the coke track with a gun in my hand. I wonder what you are missing in Denmark?? Are you guys crazy about fat?

This question has never been answered. And the movie itself is very tense. Remark: do not let children watch it. And teenagers can watch. No, not like that: I'd say it's necessary. It's not just a household cut. This is the world of the European Looking Glass.

8 out of 10

This time, a quality European film was given to me by Denmark. The first thing you notice is the realism you believe. This applies to the lead actor Gustav Gis (physiognomy, of course, he has a real criminal), as well as to his brother Oscar Gis (they, it turns out, take on the screen and in life). Also very good Roland Muller in the role of the main mafia and, concurrently, mentor.
Very authentic work of the operator, which throughout the film does not let you get bored with its manual manner of shooting. The plot is attractive, although it is not new: the guy begins to climb the criminal ladder a little bit before everything goes down. But it is European cinema, which is different from American: there are many plot moves, characterized by the absence of triviality and notorious clichés.
Separately about music. I was reminded of another film on a similar subject – Brutal (9/10), where the club-disco version of the soundtrack also played. Here, by the way, he adopted such tracks as the title Dixone - Baboon Riddim, Spleen United - Loebner, as well as Kenton Slash Demon - Sun (Spleen United remix).
One, however, the thing drove a little into a stupor - a half-breaking ending But maybe it is better.
9 out of 10

Pusher is resting.

There have been times in our history when tracksuits, baseball bats, pistols and machine guns have been the primary resource for success. Money, drugs and easy life catalyzed youth and other adventurous people to join gangs, groups and similar associations. The result, probably, was always the same – the gravestones in the cemeteries were becoming more.
"Northwest" is a view of this social phenomenon from distant (mentally) Denmark. It is clear that bandits do not become from a good life. So our hero Kasper, the eldest of the three offspring of a single mother disappearing at work, did not taste the notorious Dolce Vita. And for the girl can not pay and family can not provide. But finally, he seems to be smiling. A local pimp takes the guy under his leadership, offering him a job delivering prostitutes to clients and at the same time scaring the tired Arab tycoons who began to spoil Casper’s blood. But according to the law of the genre, the house of cards collapses as rapidly as a fragile structure in the hurricane of events that swept the life of a young man. And now, the brave and cold-blooded Casper appears to us in a completely different light. The game of bandits suddenly takes an unexpected serious turn. Through the veil of narcotic dope, Kasper turns into a bad nightmare from which there is no way out. Here, as they say, the main thing is not ... not to screw up.

Criminal drama is extremely complex and in this regard, not everyone will undertake to fantasize on this topic. It is hardly possible to really “hook” the viewer with such a genre without having some powerful story or charismatic characters with no less charismatic performers. The Danish opus "Northwest" made a mixed impression. Dynamic and high-quality picture with a rather good acting was accompanied by a clearly fresh storyline. There was not enough zest leading the gear for the mechanism to work at full strength. But in general, the movie turned out stylish, atmospheric and certainly not boring.
6 out of 10