Nicholas Winding Refn: I Experienced Death for 25 Minutes Prior to Creating Her Private Hell - MovieMaker Magazine

      Nicholas Winding Refn had reached an endpoint.

      Three years prior, he discovered he had a medical issue referred to as a leaking heart — “which means my blood was flowing in reverse.” The diagnosis came suddenly and was potentially life-threatening. To save him, surgery necessitated detaching his heart from his body for 25 minutes, during which he claims he was essentially lifeless.

      “But it occurred at the right moment in my life, because I had reached the creative limit of what I wanted to produce,” he shares with MovieMaker. “I felt completely empty. There was nothing left that I desired, so I died at the right time.”

      However, he emerged from the surgery revitalized and thankful to be alive — especially as a father to two daughters.

      “I don’t believe my kids were prepared for my departure,” he shares. “Upon my return, I realized I had been granted a gift: a chance to start anew. My memory was almost wiped clean. My bodily memories were erased. I retained emotions from my past life but now had the chance to embark on a new one.”

      Last year, he started working on his latest film, Her Private Hell, a product of his fresh outlook: “It stemmed from having erased my understanding of what a film ought to be, which I found very liberating,” states the Danish director, known for Drive, The Neon Demon, Only God Forgives, and the Pusher trilogy, recognized for its dynamic energy, mesmerizing visuals, and bold performances.

      Sophie Thatcher stars in Her Private Hell as Elle, a woman ensnared in a painful relationship with her father, Johnny Thunders (played by Dougray Scott), her young stepmother, Dominique (Havana Rose Liu), and an influencer known as Hunter (Kristine Froseth). The female characters spend a significant portion of the film in a breathtaking, opulent apartment high above the city. Meanwhile, Charles Melton portrays Private K, a soldier navigating the foggy streets to recover his daughter from despair. A mysterious figure known as the Leather Man is also present.

      The film — stunning, provocative, surreal, and captivating — is Refn’s first since The Neon Demon in 2016. Since that time, he has produced the series Too Old to Die Young for Prime Video and Copenhagen Cowboy for Netflix.

      Her Private Hell received a mixed response during its premiere at Cannes. This is nothing unusual for Refn, who accepts that his films may not appeal to everyone.

      “It ultimately comes down to, ‘Are you satisfied? Do you feel free? Do you feel fulfilled?’ If you can answer affirmatively, then you’re living by Aleister Crowley’s mantra: ‘Do as thou wilt.’”

      Even though he cites the British occultist dubbed “the wickedest man alive,” Refn perceives himself as blessed and rejuvenated — “like an infant fallen from the grace of God.”

      In our latest installment of Things I’ve Learned as a Moviemaker, the 55-year-old filmmaker discusses youth, pleasure, and how to handle collaborations when partners might resist your ideas. (His brief response: “Well, then what would you like to do?”)—M.M.

      Nicholas Winding Refn: Insights I’ve Gained as a Filmmaker

      Nicholas Winding Refn. Photo by Casper Sejersen. Courtesy of Refn

      1. The audacity of youth fuels ambition. You must possess the determination to create a film and a firm conviction that you are destined for greatness, as that confidence is essential to succeed.

      When starting out, it’s often beneficial to be completely unaware, as that means there’s nothing you can do wrong. There’s something untainted in that. It’s crucial to recognize that the initial experience is always the best because it’s when everything is born out of pure joy and enthusiasm. Whether in writing, music, or film, the first experience is special. If you're fortunate enough to encounter that at a young age, that youthful arrogance and untouched passion are treasures to both cherish and safeguard.

      2. Keep in mind that when you pass away, your memories are all you have.

      3. If you end your day feeling content, it means your day was worthwhile. Often, we expend so much energy focused on the end result, which is what motivates our efforts, but the outcome is ultimately insignificant. You’re truly alive during the creative process. That organic excitement delivers a kind of high that cannot be replicated, as the thrill of creativity is unparalleled.

      The result often relates to vanity and ego, encompassing feelings of being acknowledged or criticized. However, those external validations are secondary. Genuine joy lies in the creative journey, and those are the memories you will carry with you at the end of your life.

      A scene from Her Private Hell, directed by Nicholas Winding Refn. NEON

      4. I feel incredibly fortunate that God granted me a second opportunity in life at an age where I