Only God Forgives
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Actors: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm
PlotIn the neon-lit underbelly of Bangkok, Julian, an American expatriate running a Thai boxing club as a front for a drug smuggling operation, navigates the city's criminal underworld. His life takes a sharp turn when his brother Billy brutally murders a young prostitute and subsequently meets his own grisly end at the hands of the girl's father, prompted and guided by a retired police officer named Chang, who serves as both judge and executioner in the city's hidden corners. The incident ignites a deep desire for revenge within Julian's mother, Crystal, a powerful figure in the criminal syndicate, who arrives in Bangkok to retrieve her son's body. She demands Julian to find and kill the men responsible for his brother's death, setting him on a violent path that challenges his loyalties and his understanding of justice.
Caught between his criminal family's demands and his own moral compass, Julian's quest leads him deeper into a cycle of violence and retribution. His interactions with Chang reveal a complex antagonist who enforces his own ruthless brand of vigilante justice, wielding a sword concealed within a walking stick. As Julian confronts the consequences of his family's actions and his place within the city's criminal tapestry, he is drawn into a confrontation that tests his resolve and forces him to reckon with his own capacity for forgiveness and redemption. The city's seedy nightlife and the characters’ internal battles are depicted against a backdrop of stark violence and surreal imagery, creating a tense atmosphere where moral ambiguities thrive.
Writers: Nicolas Winding Refn
Release Date: 22 May 2013
Runtime: 90 min
Rating: R
Country: Denmark, France, United States, Sweden, Belgium, Thailand
Language: English, Thai
Home Video Reviews
Despite its stunning style, 'Only God Forgives' divides with its narrative.
Read our review of Only God Forgives Blu-ray to find out more