Overview

Following is a 1998 British crime drama and psychological thriller written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film was Nolan's first feature and follows a young, unnamed writer who habitually tails strangers around London. His curiosity pulls him into a destructive relationship with a more experienced criminal, and events unfold in a deliberately disorienting, non-linear sequence.

Production and style

The project was created as a microbudget independent film. To conserve 16 mm film stock and stay within very tight finances, the cast and crew rehearsed scenes extensively so they could be captured in only a few takes. Nolan served multiple principal roles—writer, director, cinematographer and editor—using mainly available light and hand-held camera work to keep costs down. The movie's black-and-white imagery and economical shooting methods shaped its stark, minimalist look and helped emphasize mood over spectacle.

Plot approach and narrative

Rather than a straightforward chronology, the story is presented with shifts in time and perspective. The protagonist’s curiosity and voyeurism set the narrative in motion; his decision to follow people leads to encounters that unravel his sense of control. The film plays with reliability of viewpoint and gradually reveals how manipulation and petty crime can erode identity. Viewers often note the careful construction of scenes that foreshadow later developments, making the editing central to the storytelling.

Themes and cinematic influences

Following engages with motifs common to film noir and psychological thrillers: obsession, anonymity in the modern city, moral ambiguity and the thrill of transgression. Its sparse sound design and the absence of a conventional score put attention on dialogue and ambient urban noise. The black-and-white palette, shadowed interiors and claustrophobic framing evoke classic noir while the contemporary setting and youthful protagonist give the story a modern, urban flavor.

Cast, release and reception

  • Jeremy Theobald as the young man (lead)
  • Alex Haw as the more experienced thief who draws the protagonist in
  • Lucy Russell as the mysterious woman who figures into the protagonist’s life
  • John Nolan appears among the supporting cast

The film was released on September 12, 1998. It received attention for what it achieved on a shoestring budget and for the assuredness of its direction. Critics and audiences often cite the film as a striking debut that established several of Nolan's recurring preoccupations—time, memory and unreliable narration—and it attracted interest that helped his subsequent career trajectory.

Legacy and significance

Following is frequently referenced as an example of resourceful independent filmmaking. Its production techniques and structural ambitions have been discussed in interviews and articles about Nolan's development as a filmmaker. For many viewers and emerging filmmakers it remains an instructive case study in how limitations—economy of film stock, minimal equipment and a small crew—can shape creative choices and produce a distinct cinematic voice.

For further background on the film and Nolan's early methods see interviews and retrospectives that examine how the constraints of the shoot influenced the finished work and anticipated themes that reappear in his later movies.