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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Entertainment
Catherine Shoard

Nicolas Winding Refn breaks down at Cannes recalling near-death due to ‘leaking heart’

A middle-aged man pumps his fists in front of a photographer's scrum.
Nicolas Winding Refn during a Her Private Hell photocall at Cannes on Tuesday. Photograph: Luca Carlino/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, best known for films such as the Pusher trilogy and Drive, has emotionally spoken about his near-death experience and heart surgery three years ago.

The director, whose first film in 10 years, Her Private Hell, premiered on Monday evening, told gathered journalists that he had “died for 25 minutes” in 2023.

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