What drew you to this imagery?
NICHOLAS WINDING REFN:Agusta wanted it to be very Italian.
And whats more Italian than being Catholic, almost, and I liked the idea of a confessional setting.
Nicolas Winding RefnGetty Images
DEADLINE:Were Agusta concerned about pushback from the Catholic Church around the use of this imagery?
DEADLINE:You think that people really do view beauty as a sin?
REFN:There can be a lot of repression in our repressed desires, which is not healthy.
But thats how it is… thats humanity.
And to fantasize is creativity.
DEADLINE:Were you surprised that Venice invited a commercial to its Official selection?
REFN:I think its going to shake things up being the first commercial in Venice.
Its going to fire up the floodgate.
REFN:I think its a huge opportunity creatively.
It was probably one of the best experiences Ive had creatively.
There is also a freeness, because were not so confined by commercial narrative.
In many ways, you might be more selfish.
DEADLINE:Venice is also playingPusherin Venice Classic.
How does it feel to have a film in that section?
REFN:Obviously, its a great honor.
Being in the classic section is like, Oh my God.
I didnt expect that was going to happen.
DEADLINE:As well as being your breakthrough film,Pusheralso propelled the acting career of Mads Mikkelsen.
Do you think you two will ever work together again?
We always want to re-experience… once you go down that route, it bounds you forever.
Whats your schedule like?
And it becomes very practical.
And when you look back at your beginnings, everything was just so simple.
We were making a movie and it was like, You coming over?.
Yeah, Ill be over in five minutes.
What drew you to shooting there?
You couldnt really call back to Scandinavia without placing a call, that may or may not go through.
That exposure to Manhattans multicultural sensibility made my desire to travel very inspiring to me.
Hans Christian Andersen always said to travel is to live and I very much agree with that.
Obviously, there are very many similarities between us.
I always found Asia very interesting.
DEADLINE:Have you already spent time in Japan?
Its a bit like letting a young girl loose in a Prada store.
