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Fresh
1994 114 min France, United States of America R 16+
★7.5
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Boaz Yakin
Trailers
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EN
Description
Death and violence anger twelve year old drug courier Fresh, who sets his rival employers against each other.
Budget:
$3.5M
US Gross:
$8.09M
Worldwide:
$8.09M
Starring
Sean Nelson
Actor
Giancarlo Esposito
Actor
Samuel L. Jackson
Actor
Awards
Sundance Film Festival 1994
— Filmmakers' Prize (Drama)
Sundance Film Festival 1994
— Special Jury Recognition
Sundance Film Festival 1994
— Grand Jury Prize (Drama)
Key opinion
Boaz Yakin's Fresh is a grounded and authentic exploration of life in a troubled neighborhood, distinguished by its restrained directorial approach. The film successfully balances gritty realism with a deliberate, chess-like intellectual structure, anchored by strong lead performances.
| Acting | The lead performance captures an authentic, stoic intensity that grounds the film's gritty narrative. | |
| Direction | The direction favors a refined, realist aesthetic that avoids the exploitative shock value found in similar crime dramas of the era. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography employs a simple and understated style that effectively complements the grounded storytelling. | |
| Pacing | The narrative's deliberate, slow-burn tempo is praised for its realism by some, while others find the experience requires a less analytical, purely observational approach to fully enjoy. |