Set in the Vesterbro district of the Danish capital, Copenhagen, "Pusher" is a tale about a seasoned drug dealer called Frank, who has been doing a lucrative job selling all kinds of drugs. On one fateful day, a Swedish ex-convict whom he knew back in the prison, comes up to him, asking him for 200 grams of "brown sugar." This is a great deal for Frank, who stands to draw a big profit from the deal and to pay off his debt. He makes an agreement with the Swede to sell it for DKK 900 per gram, which would total it up to DKK 180,000 (appx. US$28,712) from the entire transaction. Frank's boss, Milo, agreed to sell the drug to Frank for DKK 650 per gram, hence this would give Frank a profit of DKK 50,000 (appx. US$7,975), which he owes to Milo for a previous transaction. Seems like an excellent arrangement, right?

This pivotal drug transaction seems to go smoothly, until when they are busted by the police. Frank runs through the city, with policemen chasing him, until when he arrives at a lake. There he decides to dump the precious brown sugar into the water, thus destroying instantly any evidence that the police could have on him. Frank is then arrested and held overnight at the police station, and set free the next day.

What follows is an uphill struggle for Frank to raise the money to meet his boss' requirements, which has increased from DKK120,000 to DKK180,000, since he did not fulfill the transaction right away. This becomes what the headline for the movie states: "Du har ikke en chance, grib den!" (You have no chance, grab it!). This film becomes an analysis of Frank's tragic character, and the destructive path he set himself on, with no way out. His so-called loyal sidekick has turned against him. Any transactions he makes from this point on seems to degenerate and it is definitely not his day, as he has no luck with anything. The film subject is nothing but grim, dark and depressive.

Time is running out, and the quota has increased again from DKK180,000 to DKK230,000 (US$36,688) to be paid within two hours. Will he be able to pull it off?

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