Only God Forgives directed by Nicolas Winding Refin in 2013 stars Ryan Gosling as Julian; a young man who

yearns for affection and justice but is scared and unsure of how to achieve both of these things. After Julians brother, Billy (played by Tom Burke) was brutally beaten to death Julian and friends seek out the murderer, however, upon discovering why his brother was killed (due to Billy raping and killing a young woman) Julian isnt sure of what to do and makes sympathy for the murderer; Kim (played by Sahajak Boonthanakit) as he has lost his daughter. Accompanying this Julian has a secret affair with Mai (played by Yayaying Rhatha Phongam) in which she teases and seduces him to touch her however, as much as Julian wants to, and we see this in his mind, he simply stares at her with a blank expression making no movement. This frustrating and confusing environment is described by Damon Wise as a mans private purgatory (Wise, 2013).

Figure 1 - Julian wide eyed

The arrangement and colour of lighting is the key and most memorable element of this film. A clear statement is made when we see red light piercing through a wall what seems to have a monster-like face on it, in front of the boxing ring; this could suggest these violent activities and people enduring pain is somewhat of evil entertainment. As the light is red this also could represent anger and wrath, as described by Peter Bradshaw disturbing tracking shots down infernal corridors (Bradshaw, 2013), with this quote and the mise en scene in hand it paints the picture of a hellish atmosphere. To add to this there is a scene where yellow light is shining onto Julians hands, then a close up shot of him turning them over (palms up) and instead, a red light is cast over them, this could suggest that he feels unclean about the activities he has or will be included in. As if the red light is blood of someone that he knows will not have justice, this could be his brother or the father; Kim. The red hands reoccur in the film, at one point it has a slightly different meaning as Julians hands are being bound to an arm chair with scarves as he watches his favoured hooker pleasure herself, the red hands here could symbolise caution and restriction as he is allowed to look but not touch. The last pair of red hands we see link with the first. As the first pair with the casted red light symbolise blood, this time the last pair actually have blood on them, the first pair maybe could have been on indication of what is about to come or happen is inevitable.

Figure 3 - Monster Wall

Figure 2 - Red Hands

Ryan Gosling plays a very unusual role, instead of being a strong stud the film slowly reveals that on the inside he is still a boy who longs for a mothering affection. His mother; Crystal (played by Kristin Scott Thomas) is described as a woman who is Barbie-blonde, while her clothes look as if they were foraged from the remainders bin at Juicy Couture (Collin, 2013). Her gaudy appearance radiates through to her personality as she is outspoken and when she hears the news of Billy raping and murdering a girl she simply responds with Im sure he had his reasons. She compares Billys power and manliness to Julians, exclaiming that he is more of a man than Julian will ever be. These outbursts accommodate the reason why Julian is so melancholy and numb the whole time, it is only when Crystal is found dead with a sword wound in her stomach that Julian is able to touch a woman again. He puts his hand into her stomach, this is the closest and most intimate weve seen Julian get to any woman, and it only when a woman is dead that he plucks up the courage to do so, it is here that we see Julian has issues with his mother. He puts his hand in her as if he longs to be back in her womb, be safe from the outside world and be a part of her again, to be an adored son.

Figure 4 - Crystal

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bradshaw. P, 2013 The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/aug/01/only-god-forgivesreview (Accessed on 14/12/13) Collin. R, 2013 Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10073237/OnlyGod-Forgives-review.html (Accessed on 14/12/13)

Wise. D, 2013 Empire http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=137633 (Accessed on 14/12/13)

ILLUSTARTIONS

Fig 1 Julian wide eyed (2013) Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refin [Film Still] Denmark/Thailand, Film District/Gaumont/Wild Bunch/ Film I Vast https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=pBfam0 Ai4ZTeOM&tbnid=luFqGRkganOpM:&ved=0CAIQjBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fauteurs_production%2Fpost_im ages%2F13778%2FONLY-GOD-FORGIVES-Image04.jpg%3F1369322247&ei=H0msUr6BHcec0AX8xICACQ&bvm=bv.57967247,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNFvel9i5bZDgx8JjrR2Ua4fLSRJg&ust=1387109014503154 (Accessed on 17/12/13)

Fig 2 Monster Wall (2013) Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refin [Film Still] Denmark/Thailand, Film District/Gaumont/Wild Bunch/ Film I Vast http://www.fangoria.com/new/wpcontent/uploads/2013/07/OnlyGodForgivesRefn1.jpg (Accessed on 17/12/13) Fig 3 Red Hands (2013) Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refin [Film Still] Denmark/Thailand, Film District/Gaumont/Wild Bunch/ Film I Vast http://25.media.tumblr.com/59ea5b1f643a805898f8ce763cdf9725/tumblr_mskozl1yFG1qgy7gbo3_ 500.png (Accessed on 17/12/13) Fig 4 Crystal (2013) Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refin [Film Still] Denmark/Thailand, Film District/Gaumont/Wild Bunch/ Film I Vast http://www.brutalashell.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/kristin-scott-thomas-only-godforgives.jpg (Accessed on 17/12/13)